Inner cleanliness should be your first aim

Inner cleanliness should be your first aim. You may have fine vegetables, excellent spices, salt and the best of pulses; the cook may be a master of the art. The oven you use may be the best one can get. But if the copper vessel used for cooking is not tinned, the sambar (soup) will turn into something dangerous; that which cannot be consumed. The dish prepared becomes poisonous if the interior of the vessel is unfit for cooking. So too, you must cleanse your inner being. Sathkarma (virtuous deeds) and Sadachara (good habits) along with prayers act as lining for the vessel of your heart (hridaya pathra), where emotions, impulses and instincts are cooking. Prayer will tame all the instincts like a wild elephant is trained to perform tricks in a circus ring.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Avatara Purushas (divine advents) have no merit or demerit accumulated in former births, unlike ordinary mortals. They do not have any balances to pay off in a birth. Theirs is a Leela (divine play), a birth taken on. The goodness of the good and the wickedness of the bad provide reasons for an Avatar of the Lord. As a result of the advent of the Lord, the good will be happy and the bad will suffer. The Avatar, however has no joy or grief, even when enveloped in the body assumed. The Avatar is not constituted of the five elements; it is chinmaya not mrinmaya - spiritual not material; it can never be disturbed by egoism or the sense of ‘mine’ and ‘thine’; it is untouched by the delusion born of ignorance. Though men may mistake an Avatar as just human, that does not affect the Avatar’s nature; an Avatar comes for a task and is always bound to accomplish it.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.Both the form (swarupa) and the nature (swabhava) of the Atma is such that it is unaffected and uninfluenced by anything that is ephemeral. The soul has no birth or death, hunger or thirst, grief or delusion! Birth and death are characteristics of the body; grief and delusion are afflictions of the mind. Do not assign any status to these; know yourself as the Atma, the Divine Self. Give up all delusion and become unattached. Do not be like the porous blotting paper that gets tainted with whatever it comes in contact with. Be the lotus leaf in the marshy lake of this samsara (worldly existence); do not get smeared with the mud around you. Be in the world, yet outside it.

2.Perform abhisheka (ceremonial bath given to the Deity) to the Atma-linga (the Divine within), with the waters of your own pure mental impulses (Chittha-vritthi). What is true yajna (ceremonial sacrifice)? Giving in charity accumulated wealth is Dravya yajnam. When all physical and mental activities are utilised for sadhana (spiritual discipline) it is Thapo yajna. Doing karma (action) but yet remaining unbound by it, is Yoga Yajna. When the chittha (mind) moves in one direction and the indriyas (sense organs) move in another, the person is doubly confused. So keep attachment afar. When you accomplish this, your every act becomes a sacrifice (Yajna). Whatever you speak becomes a holy mantra; and the place where you plant your foot is rendered holy.

3.All beings are Divine, and the Lord dwells in their hearts. Yet they feel bound, miserable, limited, weak and agitated. Why? They imagine thus, and so they are shaped by the mind which is the source of that imagination. They are ignorant of their reality. How then can one be freed from this delusion? If you desire to overtake a train, you must speed in a car or board a plane. A vehicle slower than the train will not help. So too if you intend to overcome the delusion of your mind, you must establish yourself in God. The delusion of Maanavasakthi (human-power) arising out of the mind can be overcome only by the attainment of Divine Power (Daivasakthi). One prayer that promotes the acquisition of Divine Power is the repetition of the Gayathri Mantra.

4.The word Jnana also means, the eagerness to realise the Atma thathwa (the Principle of the Atma) through inquiry from those with spiritual experience. If you are anxious to get this wisdom or experience, go to realised souls and win their grace. Study well their moods and manners, and await the chance to ask them for the help. When doubts arise, approach them calmly and courageously. No amount of sea water can slake one’s thirst. Similarly any hours of study of the scriptures will not help in solving our doubts. Jnana or the ultimate wisdom, can be won only from and through elders who have experienced the absolute. Serve them and win their love. Only then can this precious Jnana be won.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.By the time it rains, if seeds have not been sown, will there be any crop in the field? If seeds are sown but there is no rain, will any cultivation happen? Both rain and seeds are needed for the harvest to be reaped. Likewise, Divine Grace will bear fruit only when there is human effort too. When there are good thoughts in the mind, they will be reflected as noble actions; on the other hand if the thoughts are ill-disposed, the fruits thereof will be equally bad. Different devotees are bound to differ in their ways of worshipping God. But whatever the method of worship, there must be one-pointed devotion. Love towards God is devotion. Love towards the world is attachment. Develop love for God.

2.The wise one (Jnani) is ever happy and this happiness does not depend on objects outside. You may wonder how; it is because such people are content with whatever happens to them, well or ill, as they are convinced that the Lord's will must prevail. Want of this contentment is a sign of a ajnani (unwise person). The ajnani piles one wish on another, builds one plan after another and pines perpetually; he or she worries and sets one’s own heart ablaze with greed. On the other hand, the Jnani is unshaken, steady and ever jubilant! The Jnanis may be engaged in karma (actions) but they are not affected in the least by it, as they have no eye on the fruit of their actions.

3.Though your parents have endowed you with this physical body (deha), it is the Guru who points out to you the Indweller of the body. To make the gold more amenable to ornament making, it is alloyed by the addition of a little silver or copper. So too in order to manifest the multiple variety of Nature, the Brahmathathwam (Divine essence) is converted into an alloy, with the addition of a little egoism or mamakaaram. The Guru teaches one to regain the pure unalloyed state through the process of Sravanam, Mananam and Nidhidhyaasam (Listening to, recapitulating and meditating on God’s glories). Through this process, one can understand that the individual Self is one and the same as the Divine Self and is infact, facet of the same entity.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.The most important reason for bondage is giving too much freedom to the mind. When an animal is tethered to a post, it will not be able to go elsewhere. It cannot show anger or violence or do harm to any person. But if it is let loose, it can roam around, destroy crops and cause loss and harm to others. In the process it may get beaten for the mischief done. Similarly, the mind must be bound by certain regulations and limits. As long as man lives within certain rules and disciplines, he will be able to maintain a good name and lead a happy and useful life. Once he crosses these limits he will go astray.

2.Karma as such has no capacity to bind; it is the conceit, 'I am the doer' that brings about the attachment and the bondage. Again, it is the desire for the fruit of action that produces the bondage. For example: the zero gets value only when in association with a digit. Karma is zero; the feeling of 'doership' when associated with Karma breeds bondage. So give up the sense of ‘I’ and the Karma that you do will never harm you. Karma done without any desire for the fruits thereof will not produce impulses; that is to say, there will be no impulse for birth even. The spiritual aspirants of the past, performed Karma with this high ideal in view. They never felt that they were the ‘doers’ or ‘enjoyers of the fruits’ of any act. The Lord did, the Lord gave the fruit and the L ord enjoyed the fruit - that was their conviction! You too should cultivate that faith.

3.Shivarathri is the day when one tries to establish friendship between the mind and God. Shivarathri makes one aware of the fact that the same Divinity is all-pervasive and is to be found everywhere. It is said that Shiva lives in Kailasa. But where is it? Kailasa means joy and bliss. It means that God lives in our minds, that are filled with joy and delight. How can one get this joy? It comes when we develop purity, steadfastness and sacredness. The heart then is filled with peace and bliss and becomes the temple of God. There is no use in just thinking of God on Shivarathri, once a year. Every day, every night, every minute, you should think of Divinity and sanctify your time. You yourself are truly Shiva, the Divine. Try to understand and recognize this principle of Shiva Tatva (Divine essence) which is indeed your own reality.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Truth is your father, Lover is your mother, Wisdom is your son, Peace is your daughter, Devotion is your brother, and Yogis are your friends

1.In the Geetha Lord Krishna says, “Arjuna! People give up revering and seeking Me, their very own Self. How foolish of them! They are not anxious to reach Me; but pursue lesser attainments that are untrue and transitory. The reason for this strange behaviour is the desire for quick results. People seek only that which is available here and now; that which is in a concrete form and is capable of being grasped by their senses; they are carried away by the attraction of flimsy pleasures. People also do not generally have the needed patience. They attach greater importance to the gross body, (sthula sarira). The achievement of Jnana (wisdom) is the true inner victory; it is won after long and arduous struggle. The few who are spiritually minded yearn for the Divine. Such wise people are indeed blessed. Look upon every act as but the execution of His order and as leading to His grace.”

2.There are no permanent mothers in the world, the only permanent mother is the Divine Mother. You must always remind yourself that you are part of a spiritual family. Truth is your father, Love is your mother, Wisdom is your son, Peace is your daughter, Devotion is your brother, and Yogis are your friends. These are your true relatives who will always accompany you and be with you. When you have this kind of relationship, when you treasure such friendship, you will be able to break the bonds of the world and be free. Think of Divinity every minute of your life. Light has value only when there is darkness; it has no value by itself. In times of trouble and sorrow, whenever problems arise, evoke the principle of Divinity. It will certainly shed illumination and light in moments of darkness and bring joy to you.

3.The Atma (Soul) is inherently devoid of attachment. It has no awareness of its own needs or nature of its possessions. It has no 'I' or 'mine' for these are the marks of ajnana (Illusion). Only those afflicted with ajnana will suffer from the ego or the sense of 'mine'. Though it may appear to ordinary eyes that ‘I am the doer’, the truth is ‘I am a non-doer’! Not only this, the effect of action (karma) does not cease as soon as it is finished. Karma yields fruits; the results of Karma breed desire for them; and that in turn results in impulses for further Karma. These impulses bring about further births. Thus Karma can lead to the cycle of births and deaths; it is a vicious whirlpool, making you revolve round and round, and finally dragging you down into the depths. So do not put your faith on this world and the objects of the world. Cultivate and practice detachment!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.Life is a tree of delusion, with all its branches, leaves and flowers of maya. You can realize this, when all your acts are dedicated offerings to God. See Him as the sap that runs through every cell; the Sun that is warming and building each atom. See Him in all and worship Him through all, for He is all. Engage in activity, filling it with devotion. It is devotion that sanctifies. A piece of paper is almost a trash, but if the contents of a certificate are written on it, you value and treasure it; it becomes a passport for promotion in life. Hence it is the bhaava (feelings behind an act) that matters, and not baahya (outward pomp and show). Without knowing this secret of transforming every action into an act of worship, people suffer from disappointment and grief. In sacred places of worship, stones of little value are shaped as Divine forms or idols. But when the feeling of devotion transmutes the idol, it become the highest treasure for the human mind.

2.The Lord, like a lump of sugar, is sweetness all over. All differences and distinctions are the illusions of people with body consciousness. Consider this example: A mother having four children does not give the other three as much attention and care as she gives to the child in the cradle. Even if the child does not call out for it, she is ever vigilant to give it food. The other three come and ask her for food and things to play with. Observing this, you cannot pronounce her a bad mother or a partial mother. The mother adjusts her activities to the capacity and ability of the child. So too, though the entire world is His, though all are His children, He graces and blesses each one according to one’s capacity and ability. To ascribe any fault to such selfless, sincere, simple, ever-blissful Providence is like attributing darkness to the Sun - it is an act of sheer ignorance!

3.If there is a boil on the body, we apply some ointment and cover it with a bandage until it heals. If you do not do this, it is likely to become septic and cause great harm later on. Now and then one has to clean it with pure water, apply the ointment again and put on a new bandage. In the same way in our life, there is this particular boil which has come up in our body, in the form of 'I', (ahamkara and mamakara). If you want to really cure this boil of 'I', you will have to wash it every day with the waters of love, apply the ointment of faith and tie the bandage of humility around it. This will cure the disease that has erupted with this boil of 'I’.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Do not look down upon anyone as a disturbance and nuisance.

1.The best way to get rid of desire, anger and hatred is to strike at the very taproot of the tree - the mistaken belief that you are the body, with this name and form, senses, intelligence and mind. This is the luggage you are carrying. Don’t you say, my nose, my book, my umbrella? Who is this ‘I’ that calls all these ‘mine’? That is the real ‘you’! It was present, when you were born, when you were sleeping forgetting everything else including your body and its afflictions. That ‘I’ cannot be harmed, it does not change, it knows no birth and death. Learn the discipline that makes you aware of this truth and you will be ever free and bold. This is true knowledge (atmavidya), which the preceptors and sages have gleaned for you. You too must, one day or the other learn this and save yourselves. All have to reach the goal, travelling along the path of wisdom.

2.Some are always worn out by ills that affect the body; they are called the Aarthas. There are others who are worried by the struggle for prosperity, power, property, fame, etc.; they are Artha-arthis. The third type are those that yearn for the realisation of the Atma, and such people read the scriptures, move in the company of spiritual aspirants, act along the lines of scriptures - sadachara (Right Conduct), and are always motivated to reach the Lord; they are called Jijnaasus. The fourth is the Jnani, who is ever immersed in the Divine. I am like the Kalpavriksha (wish-fulfilling divine tree). My task is to give each what they ask for, without any prejudice or favouritism. Can any fault be imputed to the Sun shining its rays? The rays of the Sun fall equally upon all that are directly in the ir way; but if someone is behind something else, inside a closed room for instance, how can the Sun illumine them? Cultivate higher yearnings and receive accordingly!

3.Develop love for all. Do not think that a person is superior or more devoted than the rest. Do not look down upon anyone as a disturbance and nuisance. If you have love for God, you will love all, for God is in every one. You sing bhajans (devotional songs) which say “God is all, God is in everyone” (Antha Sai Mayam). If that is true, how can you have love for God alone? You have pictures of God in your home or in the temple. If anyone speaks ill of any of them, do you like it? You don’t! So too, when you treat anyone harshly or speak rudely to anyone, you are treating Me harshly. When you are insulting anyone, you are insulting Me. I desire that you should conduct yourselves in a loving, harmonious and peaceful manner at all times! Serve everyone gladly, as you would serve Me.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought For the Day

1.In Mahabharatha, Krishna declared to Arjuna that fostering of Dharma is His work. The term Sadhu refers to one who does not deviate from his duty. The wicked revel in creating trouble for such men and in indulging in acts contrary to the injunctions of the scriptures. What then is the establishment of Dharma? It is acting strictly according to the tenets laid down in the scriptures; spreading among people the glory and the splendour of a life lived in Dharma; stabilising reverence towards the holy scriptures, towards God, Avatars and Paramapurushas (evolved souls) and the Sadhana (spiritual practices) that leads to liberation and blessedness beyond this life. It is called Dharma-samsthaapana, Dharmarakshana or Dharmoddhaarana (establishment, protection or reviv al of righteousness). "Whatever I do, it is for this high purpose; nothing is for My own advancement. Those who know this secret can escape birth and death," said Krishna.

2.Remember always that it is easy to do what is pleasant. But it is very difficult to be engaged in what is beneficial. Not all that is pleasant is profitable. Success comes to those who give up the path strewn with roses and brave the hammer blows and sword thrusts of the path fraught with danger. As a matter of fact, no road is strewn with rose petals. Life is a battle field (a Dharmakshetra), where duties and desires are always in conflict. Smother the fiery fumes of desire, of hatred and anger that rise up in your hearts; it is sheer cowardice to yield to these enemies that turn you into beasts. Meet all obstacles with courage. Difficulties make you tough and strong.

3.To feel that the Lord is away, afar or separate from you is Paroksha jnana (indirect knowledge). To feel that the Lord who is immanent in the universe is in you also as the Atman - that is Aparoksha jnana (directly experienced). If all activity is moved by the dedicatory spirit, the Chittha (inner concience) can be rendered pure. Only such can recognise the divine nature of the Lord's birth and actions (Janma and Karma), said Krishna. All cannot so recognise the Divine. Yet no one should avoid contact with the Divine. Also remember that the punishment of the wicked is also part of the Divine Mission. Those who transgress the limits set and indulge in akarma (inaction), anyaya (injustice) and anaachaara (immorality), and roam about caught in the coils of ahamkaara (egoism) will be punished. Utilise every chance given to you to be good and do good. There should not be any lapse on your part.

4.Only those who are free from attachment, hatred, fear and anger; who are immersed in the name and form of the Lord, knowing of no other support than Him; and are sanctified by the knowledge of the Atma, can grasp Divinity. Those who seek the Lord without deviation, possessing Truth, Love and Right Conduct, will attain Him. This is absolutely true; give up any doubt you may have! People render their inner consciousness impure by ignorantly dwelling on the objective world. They take delight in mere sabda, rasa, gandha, (sound, taste, smell) etc. When they seek objective pleasure they are tempted to secure the objects that give pleasure; foiled in the attempt, they get restless, hateful and afraid. Fear robs one of his mental resources. It creates anger that cannot be easily pacified. Thus desire, anger and fear are aro used one after the other and these three must be removed to realize the Lord.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.The task of every Avatar has been to protect the sadhus, punish the wicked and support right conduct (Dharma). By sadhus, I do not mean monks and ascetics alone, as it is generally understood. It means the ones who practice goodness, uprightness and virtue (sadhu-guna). Note that these can be possessed by animals and even insects. The promotion of Sathwa guna (purity) is the best means of fostering sadhus. Being the embodiment of this sacred Guna, the Avatar fosters it wherever people practising virtues are found. Sadhu also implies those persons who do not swerve from their duty, whatever be the temptation or threat. All those who follow right conduct (Sadachara), who are virtuous (Sadsheela), who adhere to truth (Sathya), who yearn for the Divine pre sence (Sannidhi) of the Lord (Sarveswara), who observe Sad-dharma, who consider all (Sarvajana) as equal (Samaana); all of them are dear to Me and deserve My special attention.

2.Service to your fellow beings is more needed than service to the Lord. In fact, serving a person is equal to serving the Lord Himself. That is the path of true devotion. For what greater means can there be to please God than that of pleasing His children? The scripture Purusha Suktha describes God as having a thousand heads, eyes and feet. That is to say, every living being is God. Though there is a mention of a thousand heads, there is no mention of a thousand hearts, there is only one heart. The same blood circulates through all the heads, eyes, feet and limbs. When you tend to the limb, you tend to the individual. When you serve a human being, you serve God. When your goal is to serve and adore God, every step will yield you a spring of joy, and every moment, every opportunity is a valuable gift from Him.

3.Virtuous character is found in Nature, and among the animals and birds as well. In the epic Ramayana, the eagle Jatayu was saved as a result of his virtuous nature (Guna). That is the reason why several monkeys too were given a chance to serve and be blessed with His grace. The same reason prompted the Lord to bless the squirrels who contributed to building the bridge in the epic. A monk or devotee is not made by a string of beads, an ochre robe and a stick in the hand. The clothes one wears and the language one has on the tongue do not decide who is a virtuous person and who is not; it is one’s conduct that settles it. Even animals have the potentiality to be good. Fostering goodness everywhere in everyone is the best means of ensuring the welfare of the world.

4.It is dedication to the Lord that sanctifies all activities. He is the prompter, executor, the giver of the required strength and skill, and the one who enjoys the fruit thereof. So dedication must come naturally to you, for all is His, and nothing is yours! Your duty is to believe that He is the impeller of your activities and draw strength from that belief. Until the wound heals and the new skin hardens, the bandage must protect the place. So too, until reality within is realized, the balm of faith, holy company and holy thoughts must be applied to the ego-affected mind. Develop good habits, mix in the company of the pious, do good deeds and serve those in distress - all these steps will lead you into the glorious path of Self-Knowledge. Take to this discipline from now and save yourselves from grief and distress. I bless that you get the will to do so and to persist until success is won.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.If Arjuna was an individual like others, he could not have been an effective instrument, a recipient and transmitter of great teachings. He is a hero who has defeated not merely the outer foes, but even the inner ones. Weak hearts cannot grasp the Geetha and put it into practice. It is with this full knowledge that Krishna selected Arjuna and showered on him His overpowering grace. Once Krishna said: "Arjuna, you are My closest Bhaktha (devotee); you are also My dearest friend. That is the reason why I taught you this supreme, secret teaching." Reflect on this! To get the title from the Lord Himself is the highest credential and good fortune, which reflects how pure-hearted and deserving Arjuna was. Bhakthi (devotion) must be won by implicit obedience. But being a devotee alone is not sufficient. Hence Krishna uses the word mithra (friend). The friend has no fear; that makes him a more perfect recipient.

2.You are pure and indestructible; you are beyond the ups and downs of life; you are the true, the eternal, the unchanging Brahmam (Divine Self). A mere five-minute inquiry will convince you that you are not the body, the senses, the mind or the intelligence, the name or the form; but that you are the Aatma Itself - the same Aatma that appears as all this variety. Once you get a glimpse of this truth, hold on to it; do not allow it to slip. Make it your permanent possession. Look upon all with love, respect and faith in their sincerity. Treat your servants kindly. Do not entertain hatred or contempt in your heart. Repent for the errors that you commit and decide never to repeat them; pray for strength to carry out your resolutions. Do not find fault with others. Purify your heart by being good to all.

3.What exactly do people mean when they say the Sun has risen or that it has set? It is so far as their vision is concerned; that is all, is it not? The Sun does not rise or set. The incarnation of God is also like that. In the Geetha, Krishna said: “I am not born, nor do I die. Men of ordinary intellect consider that I am born many times and that I do many deeds during each birth. Whenever there is a need for the uplift of the world, I become manifest, assuming a name and form, that is all. So I am conscious of all My appearances, all My manifestations. I am almighty, I am Sarvajna (all knowing). Not only I, even you know everything. But your Jnana (wisdom) is overwhelmed by ajnana (ignorance). I am Jnana itself. I remain as almighty and as Sarvajna as ever. I am birthless, immortal”.

4.Be silent yourself; that will induce silence in others. Do not fall into the habit of shouting, talking loudly or for long. Reduce contacts to the minimum. Carry with you an atmosphere of quiet contemplation, wherever you happen to be. There are some who live in a perpetual tornado of noise. Whether they are in an exhibition, a fair, a hotel, a temple or even in Prashanthi Nilayam; their wagging tongues do not stop. Such people will not proceed far on the Godward path. There are others who relish disputes and arguments; they are never content with obvious facts; they must create doubts where none existed before, and shake faith. They dispute whether Rama is superior to Krishna, or whether Krishna is a fuller incarnation of Godhead! These thoughts are not helpful either, for a spiritual aspirant. Winnow the real from the apparent. Look inward for the kerne l, the meaning and purpose of life.

5.Avatara Purushas (divine advents) have no merit or demerit accumulated in former births, unlike ordinary mortals. They do not have any balances to pay off in a birth. Theirs is a Leela (divine play), a birth taken on. The goodness of the good and the wickedness of the bad provide reasons for an Avatar of the Lord. As a result of the advent of the Lord, the good will be happy and the bad will suffer. The Avatar, however has no joy or grief, even when enveloped in the body assumed. The Avatar is not constituted of the five elements; it is chinmaya not mrinmaya - spiritual not material; it can never be disturbed by egoism or the sense of ‘mine’ and ‘thine’; it is untouched by the delusion born of ignorance. Though men may mistake an Avatar as just human, that does not a ffect the Avatar’s nature; an Avatar comes for a task and is always bound to accomplish it.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.The One God is the inner motivator (Sarvaantharyaami) of all beings. If He is within all, why is He not visible to all, you may ask. Let me give you an example. Picture a rosary of different types of beads: coral, pearl, tulasi, rudraaksha, crystal, conch, etc. The string passes through each rosary and holds all the beads together but it is visible only in the transparent beads. So too, you have to make yourself transparent, free from wish and will, that hide and befogs the Lord Within. Then you can see the Inner Motivator. To earn this transparency, purity of intention, impulse and instinct is essential. You can achieve it by systematic and sincere spiritual discipline. A ladder has to be as tall as the height you want to reach. So too, your spiritual practices (sadhana) has to be pursued till you experience Him.

2.A crocodile's strength depends on it being in water; the strength of Dharma (Right Conduct) depends on it being practised. Dharma will be weak when it is taken out of practice and thrown on the sands of words. Sathya is a matter of speech and it gets strength when it is consistently practised. The term ‘Strength’ here has two meanings: Animal (Asuric) strength and Dharmic strength. In the epic Mahabharatha, Bhima (the second of the five Pandava brothers) had physical strength, but as his elder brother Dharmaja was by his side, Bhima's strength became Dharmic. The Pandavas were saved by their adherence to Dharma! But for their right conduct, they would have suffered defeat right in the very beginning. And why did the Kauravas (the hundred brothers whom the Pandavas fought aga inst) lose in spite of their undoubted strength? They lacked Dharmic strength. All that they could rely on was sheer animal strength.

3.Persist in your Sadhana (spiritual discipline) till you reach the goal. Once the walls are completely built, the scaffolding is removed; so too, when the vision of Reality is attained, the various forms of Sadhana (like meditation, contemplation, worship, devotional singing, etc.) adopted by you can be dispensed with. Congenial company is most necessary for you to persist in your Sadhana. You will be shaped by the company you keep; you will be fouled by the foul thoughts of the people among whom you move. So be ever vigilant of the company you keep; the pure water that falls as rain from the sky is changed into a hundred tastes and colours by the soil on which it falls. Be alert! You must also look out for every chance to dwell on noble thoughts, do elevating tasks and curb the downward pull of the ego.

4.From the reign of adharma (unrighteousness), the world has to enter the era of Dharma (righteousness). Special effort is called for when you cultivate a crop; no effort is necessary when weeds and wild grass are allowed to grow. The valuable crop of Sahajadharma (innate righteousness) has to be cultivated with all care and attention. When Dharma is practised, adharma will decline by itself. No special exertion is needed for its removal. Dharma, since it is associated with truth, is indestructible. To make the Dharma that has become hidden, visible once again, its practice must be intensified. That is Dharmasthaapana (establishing righteousness). Using Arjuna as an instrument, Lord Krishna brought to light the codes of conduct and modes of thought which were laid down from the ver y beginning and revived their practice. This is not work that can be carried out by ordinary men. So the universal Lord Himself assumed the task and instructed the world through Arjuna.

5.Victory at the election ensures power only for a specific period. When that period ends, the politician has to contest once again and seek votes. So too, good acts done with attachment will ensure a place in Heaven, but when the deposit is spent out, one will have to return to Earth. A person visiting a city with some cash in hand is the master of all the bazaars, cinema halls, hotels and taxis, but only to the extent the money lasts. When the purse is rendered empty, one has to escape back into his village or city of origin, perhaps as a ticketless traveller, harassed by policemen at every halt! No, heaven is no solution for the hunger of the soul! The river must reach the sea, not the desert sands; the waters have to merge with water. That is the consummation named Kaivalya or Saayujya. Keep that goal of merging with the One Lord, ever in your focus and have your wavering mind continuously in leash.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought forl the Day

1.If you have an eye on the fruits of your actions, you are liable to be affected by worry, anxiety and restlessness. You may ask: “If the fruits have to be given up, how can one manage to live?” Let Me ask you - Why this weakness of heart, this nervousness? He who has assured, 'Yogakshemam vahamyaham' (I will take care of all your needs - worldly and spiritual) will certainly look after that. He will give the wherewithal and the means. The seeker (Karmayogi) who has learnt the secret of action (Karma) combined with sacrifice (Phala thyaga) should have Sama buddhi (equanimity), more than Sanga buddhi (mind attached to the world). Sanga buddhi leads one to think: “This action is mine; its results are due to my endeavours. I am the person entitled to it". Such thoughts bind the doer. Krishna in the Geeta declares, “Samathwam yogamuchyathe” (The end result of all spiritual practices is the attainment of equanimity). One should rise above this Sanga buddhi and try to attain Samathwam.

2.You must first conquer desire. For this, neither waging a war nor the use of pleasing words to persuade desire to disappear is necessary. It will not vanish for fear of one or for favour of the other. Desires are objective; they belong to the category of the ‘seen’. With the conviction "I am the see-er, not the seen", you must release yourself from attachment and conquer desire. You must watch the working of the mind, from outside it; you should not get involved in it. That is the meaning of this discipline. The faculty of the mind is like a strong current of electricity. It has to be watched from a distance and not contacted or touched. Touch it and you are reduced to ashes. So too, contact and attachment give the mind a chance to ruin you. The farther you are from it, the better. By skillful methods, you have to make the best use o f it for your own welfare.

3.The Divine is not separate from you. You are the Divine. This conviction must grow in you. In the beginning you regard yourself as a mere human being. Then gradually you realize your potential divinity. Finally you realize your own inner Divinity. Embark on this journey to attain union with the Divine from now. Time waits for no one. Concentrate all your efforts to realize God. The primary requisite is the elimination of the ego; without this, the bliss of Divinity cannot be experienced. Ostentatious worship, wealth, power and position will not help you in the spiritual quest. They cannot confer peace or remove the fear that haunts man all the time. Only the man of faith is completely free from fear. Hence develop faith in God and lead a God-directed life. The one who is conscious of one’s faults is blessed. Equally blessed are those wh o see the good in others.

4.Jesus sacrificed his life for the regeneration and welfare of mankind. He also proclaimed the truth: One Spirit resides in all beings. He said, “All lives are one, my dear son. Be alike to everyone." You must regard the body as the temple of the Spirit; bear in mind that Divinity is ever within you. Human body is a vesture for the Spirit. Only when you realise this truth can you begin to experience the Divine. Remember, wherever you may go, the Eternal Spirit remains with you. People may be different in form and name, in colour and nationality, and from varied historical circumstances. But God has no such differences. Hence you should not cavil at any religion or attack it or deride it. You may profess whatever faith you like. But you should not disparage another's beliefs. It is a travesty of devotion. We must always respect the div ine that is in every being.

4.Be thankful to the Lord that He gave you Time, as well as action to fill it with. He gave you food, as well as hunger to relish it. But that does not entitle you to engage in action indiscriminately. When you build a house, you install a door in front. What is its purpose? To admit all whom you welcome and to keep out all and sundry, and not let them in as and when they like. So too, select the impulses, the motives, the incentives that enter your mind; keep out the demeaning, the debasing, and the deleterious. Admit the highest wisdom of the scriptures, the wisdom culled out of the crucible of experience (anubhava jnaanam). You have meditated too long on riches, status, salary, children, relatives, fame and the standard of living. They are all of momentary value. Fix your focus and urge on God, the Eternal, the Real, the Pure and the Immovable.

5.Everyone seeks and strives to be at peace with himself and with the community around. People have tried to get this peace by accumulating wealth, which gives power over others and the ability to command conveniences and comforts. Some have sought positions of authority and influence, so they can shape events suited to one’s aims and fancies. Unfortunately, these paths are beset with fear, and the peace that is secured thereby is liable to quick and sometimes violent extinction. Real Peace (Shaanthi) can be achieved only through Love! It is the fruit of the tree of life. This fruit with the sweet essence is encased in a bitter skin. The bitter skin is symbolic of the six evil passions that encase the loving heart of man: lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride and hate. Those who remove the exterior through hard and consistent disci pline attain the sweetness inside - the much desired peace; this peace is everlasting, unchanging and overwhelming.

6.When studying in the primary classes many children conduct themselves with humility, discipline and goodness. However when they reach the Secondary School, they lose some of these qualities. When they go to college, almost everything is gone! Why? It is the teachers who account for their discipline and good behaviour in the Primary School. In the higher classes and in colleges, is anything done through precept and practice to promote character and spirituality among the students? Today, education is sought for getting a job; this is not proper. Education is for developing right understanding. Students should imbibe culture along with academic knowledge. Spirituality and morality should be promoted among the students. Of all the professions in the world, that of the teacher is the most estimable. The teacher has to impart to the students what is good and ennobling. This should be developed in all educational institutions.

7.The whole world is intimately associated with the Sun God. He is the visible manifestation of the Lord. In India, Sun God (Surya) is considered highly sacred and granted the unique status of a great Guru. Sun is also the source of time. The Sun limits and regulates the number of years each one lives. He performs His duty without thought of reward, and is humble and steady. Imagine the patience with which the Sun puts up with all that extreme heat, and gives sufficient warmth to the human body, every single day. Human beings are so full of activity and intelligence on account of the solar energy that is imbibed. If the Sun is idle even for a moment, the whole world will go cold and dark. The actions of the great is the ideal that the rest have to keep in view. This also shows that all in the world are bound by the obligation of karma (activity) .

8.Right Conduct (Dharma) is the quality which makes a human out of an animal. This Sahajadharma (natural conduct) of human beings has been overpowered in course of time; those who supported and encouraged it, and derived joy from it have declined in numbers. This is akin to the weed overpowering the crop. So the 'establishment of Dharma' is a matter of weeding of the field! In this iron age (Kaliyuga), Dharma has been reduced to mere words. Dharma is not manipulation of words. "Sathyam Vada, Dharmam Chara" (Speak Truth and Practice Righteousness) - has been the clarion call of the Upanishads, the repositories of Indian culture. However in the present times, "Dharmam vada," (Speak about Right Conduct) has become the order of the day! That is the first step in th e decline of Dharma! Know that that which is not practised cannot possess strength. Understand this truth and practise Dharma in your lives.

Bagavan sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.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.

2.Generally, people seek only happiness and joy; under no circumstance do they desire misery and grief! They treat happiness and joy as their closest well-wishers, and misery and grief as their sworn enemies. This is a great mistake. When you are happy, the risk of grief is great; fear of losing the happiness will haunt you. Misery prompts inquiry, discrimination, self-examination and fear of worse things that might happen. It awakens you from sloth and conceit. Face the dualities of life with thithiksha (fortitude). But be aware, thithiksha is different from patience (Sahana). Patience is putting up with something; tolerating or bearing with it because you have no other choice. Fortitude is having the capacity to overcome it, but yet, disregarding it - that is the spiritual discipline. Putting up with the external world of duality with inner equanimity and peace is the path that will lead you to liberation. Bear all, with analytical discrimination - this type of patience will yield good results.

3.Dwell always on lofty thoughts. When air fills a football, it takes the form of a ball. When it enters a balloon, it takes the shape of the balloon, oval or spherical. So too, the mind takes the form of the objects with which it is attached. If it gets fixed on small things, it becomes small. If it is focussed on noble and grand ideas, it becomes noble and grand. The camera takes a picture of whatever it is pointed at, so is the case with the mind. Discriminate before you develop attachment. If your attachment is towards spouse and children, lands and buildings, bank accounts and balances, you will experience grief when they decline. Develop sincere and steady attachment towards the Divine and you will grow in love and splendour. Devotion is not a matter of beads and beards, nor is worship signified by flowers, camphor or bell-ringing. You are judged by your spiritual discipline, thoughts and sense-control.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba