Your assessment of the Lord is dependent on your feelings.

Develop righteousness. Live and act in joy and love. You will attain salvation without fail. - Baba

These are the two chief enemies of every spiritual aspirant: Conceit (that you know everything) and Doubt (Is it or is it not). Simply decide to be firmly fixed in your reality. If that is pure, everything is pure. If that is true, everything is true. If you wear blue eyeglasses, you see only blue, even though Nature is resplendent with many colours. So too, if the world appears to you as full of differences, that is due only to the fault in you. If all appears as one love, that too is only your love. The feelings within you, is the cause in both situations. The question that may arise next is whether the Lord has faults, for He too identifies faults. The Lord only searches for goodness in a devotee, not faults and sins. Your assessment of the Lord is dependent on your feelings. The Lord showers grace on those endowed with righteousness, irrespective of race, wealth and gender.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Many in the world utilise their vast learning in disputations and believe they are superior; this is a great mistake. If they really were so learned, they would assume silence as the honourable course.

Service is the highest form of worship and the best penance. - Baba

Can a donkey carrying perfume or a bundle of sandalwood become an elephant? It can appreciate the weight but not the scent! The elephant pays no regard to the weight; it inhales the sweet scent, right? So too, the spiritual aspirant, or devotee will take in only the pure truth, the pure essence of good activities, of Godliness, and of the scriptures. On the other hand, one who goes on arguing for the sake of mere scholarship, learning, and disputation will know only the weight of logic, missing the scent of truth! Many in the world utilise their vast learning in disputations and believe they are superior; this is a great mistake. If they really were so learned, they would assume silence as the honourable course. For those in search of the essence, the burden is no consideration. If mere reason is employed, nothing worthwhile is gained. Love is the one big instrument for the constant remembrance of the Lord. Keeping that instrument safe and strong needs no other appliance than the scabbard of discrimination (viveka).

பிறப்பதே உலகிற்காக!

டிச., 30 - ரமணர் பிறந்தநாள்

பிறந்தன, இறப்பதும்; இறந்தன, பிறப்பதும்; தோன்றுவன, மறைவதும்; மறைவன, தோன்றுவதுமான உயிர் மற்றும் உலக சுழற்சியில், தெய்வீக சக்தி படைத்த மகான்களே காலங்கள் கடந்தும் மக்கள் மனதில் நிலைத்து நிற்கின்றனர். அவர்கள் தான், வாழ்க்கை என்றால் என்ன என்பதை நமக்கு உணர்த்தி, வாழ்க்கை நிலையற்றது என்றும், வாழும் வரை மற்றவர்களுக்கு நல்லது செய் என்றும் வலியுறுத்துகின்றனர். இந்த மகான்களின் வரிசையில் முக்கியமானவர் ரமணர்.
விருதுநகர் மாவட்டத்திலுள்ள திருச்சுழியில் சுந்தரம் ஐயர்- - அழகம்மை தம்பதியருக்கு, நாகசாமி மற்றும் வேங்கடராமன் என இரு பிள்ளைகள். சுந்தரம் ஐயரின் குடும்பத்தில் யாராவது ஒருவர் துறவியாகி விடுவது வழக்கம். அதுபோல், தன் பிள்ளைகளும் ஆகி விடக்கூடாது என நினைத்த சுந்தரம், அவர்களை படிக்க வைத்தார். இரண்டாவது மகன் வேங்கடராமன் திருச்சுழி சேதுபதி துவக்கப்பள்ளியில், தன் அடிப்படை கல்வியை முடித்தவர், திண்டுக்கல்லில் படிப்பைத் தொடர்ந்தார். இந்நிலையில், வேங்கடராமனின் தந்தை இறந்து விட்டார்.
தந்தையின் உடலை சுற்றி உறவினர்கள் அமர்ந்து, அழுது கொண்டிருக்க, வேங்கடராமனின் மனதிலோ, 'இந்த மரணம் எதனால் ஏற்பட்டது; மரணத்துக்கு பின் தந்தை எங்கே போவார்...' என்ற சிந்தனைகள் தோன்றியது. பின், மதுரையில் தன் சித்தப்பா சுப்பையர் வீட்டில் தங்கி படித்தார்.
ஆனால், அவருக்கு படிப்பில் நாட்டமில்லை. ஒருசமயம், வேங்கடராமனிடம், ஆசிரியர் கேள்வி கேட்க, அவரால் பதில் சொல்ல முடியவில்லை. எனவே, அதை மூன்று முறை எழுதி வரச்சொல்லி உத்தரவிட்டார் ஆசிரியர். இரண்டு முறை அதை எழுதிய வேங்கடராமனுக்கு, திடீரென, தந்தை இறந்து கிடந்த காட்சி நினைவுக்கு வர, உடனே அதுபற்றி சிந்திக்க ஆரம்பித்தவர், அப்படியே தியானத்தில் ஆழ்ந்து விட்டார். இதைப் பார்த்த அவரது அண்ணன் நாகசாமி, தன் தம்பி தூங்குவதாக எண்ணி, கண்டித்தார்.
இதனால், சலிப்படைந்த வேங்கடராமன், தனக்கு பள்ளியில் சிறப்பு வகுப்பு இருப்பதாக தன் அண்ணனிடம் கூறி, ஊரை விட்டு செல்ல முடிவெடுத்தார். அப்போது அவர் மனதில் தோன்றிய தலம் திருவண்ணாமலை!
மிகுந்த சிரமப்பட்டு, திருவண்ணா மலையை அடைந்தார் வேங்கடராமன்.
அங்கு, தன் உடைகளைக் களைந்து, கோவணம் கட்டிக் கொண்டார். கையில் இருந்த காசுகளை அருணாசலேஸ்வரர் கோவில் குளத்தில் வீசியவர், ஒரு மண்டபத்தில் அமர்ந்து தியானத்தில் ஆழ்ந்தார். அவர் மீது கல்வீசி தாக்கினர் சிறுவர்கள். அதையெல்லாம் அவர் உணரவே இல்லை. பின், கோவிலிலுள்ள பாதாள லிங்க சன்னிதியில் சென்று அமர்ந்தார்.
அவரது தியான கோலம் கண்ட சிலர், அவருக்கு சேவை செய்ய ஆரம்பித்தனர். இந்நிலையில், கணபதி முனிவர் என்னும் மகா பண்டிதர் ஒருவர், வேங்கடராமனை தரிசித்து, அவரது அருளைப் பெற்று, அஞ்ஞானம் விலகியவர், அவரை அன்புடன், 'ரமணர்' என்று அழைக்க, அதுவே பின் நிலைத்து விட்டது.
ரமணர் தங்கியிருக்கும் விபரம் தெரிய வந்து, அவரை வீட்டிற்கு அழைத்துச் செல்ல திருவண்ணாமலை வந்தார், அவரது தாயார். ஆனால், தாயின் வேண்டுகோளை ரமணர் மறுக்கவே, அந்த அம்மையாரும் அங்கேயே தங்கி, ரமணருக்கு சேவை செய்ய ஆரம்பித்தார். எதன் மீதும் பற்று இல்லாமல், பக்தர்களுக்கு நல்லுரை வழங்கி, அவர்களை நல்வழிப்படுத்திய ரமணர், ஏப்., 14, 1950ல் இறைவனடி எய்தினார்.
'நீ யார் என்று உன்னை நீயே கேட்டுப் பார்; வாழ்வின் உண்மை புரியும்' என்று கூறி, இவ்வுலக மக்களை நல்வழிப்படுத்தினார் ரமணர்.
அவரது பிறந்த நாளில், அன்னாரின் சிறந்த போதனைகளைப் படிப்போம். பிறந்தது நிஜம், மரணமும் நிஜம்; இடைப்பட்ட காலத்தில், சமுதாயத்துக்கு எவ்வளவு நன்மை செய்ய முடியுமோ, அதைச் செய்து விட்டு செல்வோம்!
தி.செல்லப்பா
நன்றி தினமலர் நாளிதழ்

இதுக்கு பேர்தான் 56 இன்ச்

இலங்கை , பாகிஸ்தான் இரு நாடுகளும் நமது அண்டை நாடுகள் .

நேற்று

 இலங்கைக்கு விஜயம் செய்த இந்திரா காந்தியின் மகன் ராஜீவ் அவர்கள் மண்டையை பதம் பார்க்க நினைத்த காட்சியும் ..இதில் ராஜீவ் அரசியலுக்கே புதிது , விபத்தில் அரசியல் பதவி பெற்றார் .தனது அமைதி பூங்கா தமிழக விஜயத்தில் கட்சியின் உள் குத்து அரசியலில், தவறான வழிகாட்டுதல் படி பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகளின் பாதுகாப்பு வளையத்தையும் மீறியதால் தனது உயிரை விட்டார் ..

இன்று
ஜின்னா மற்றும் நேருவின் சூழ்ச்சியில் வலுகட்டயமாக பிரிந்த பாகிஸ்தான் , அன்று முதல் இன்றுவரையில் நமது தேசத்தை எதிரி நாடாகவே பாவித்து , இங்கே காங்கிரஸ் கட்சியின் கை கூலியாக குழப்பம் விளைவித்து கொண்டு இருக்க , சாதாரண பிரஜை பாகிஸ்தான் போனாலே திரும்பி வருவது பிரம்ம பிரயத்தனம்
என்ற அளவில் மோடி ஜி பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகளின் பாதுகாப்பு வளையத்தையும் மீறி அமைந்தது பாக் பயணம்.

2002 முதல் இஸ்லாமியருக்கு எதிரானவர் என்ற நச்சு கருத்தை , நயவஞ்சக ஒண்ணா நெம்பர் அக்யுஸ்ட் சோனியா காங்கிரஸ் கட்சி அகில உலக அளவுக்கு பரப்புரை செய்தது.
இந்திய ஹிந்துக்கள் இஸ்லாத்துக்கு எத்ரானவர்கள் என்ற உணர்வை பாகிஸ்தான் நாட்டில் விதைத்தது .

அப்படியான அமைதியற்ற , ஸ்திர தன்மையற்ற நாட்டில் எந்த வித அசம்பாவிதமும் இல்லாமல்

பாகிஸ்தான் பாதுகாப்பு வீரர்கள் அணி வகுத்து நிற்க மோடியின் ராஜநடை..அமைந்தது .
இதுக்கு பேர்தான் 56 இன்ச் என்பது ..

மோடிக்கும் ராஜீவ் காந்திக்கும் உள்ள வித்தியாசம்!.

தமிழர்களுக்கும் சிங்களர்களுக்கும் பகை இருந்தாலும்

ஸ்ரீ லங்காவுடன் தேசிய அளவில் நமக்கு பெரிய பகை என்று எதுவுமில்லை ... சொல்லப்போனால் நம் கை எப்போதும் ஓங்கியே இருந்துள்ளது...

ஆனால் பாகிஸ்தான் உருவான நாள் முதல் நம்மை விரோதியாகவே பாவித்து வருகிறது... போதாத குறைக்கு மூன்று போர்கள்... ஒரு பாதியை பிரித்து உடைத்ததும் காங்கிரஸ்தான்...

முன் எச்சரிக்கையாக பல மாதங்களாக பலமான பாதுகாப்பு ஏற்பாடுகள் முன் கூட்டியே செய்யப்பட்டு ராஜீவ் இலங்கைக்கு சென்றாலும் அங்கு அவர் படுகேவலமாக அசிங்கப்பட்ட சூழ்நிலையில் இந்தியாவிலிருந்த காங்கிரஸ் அரசு இலங்கைக்கு எதிராக ஒரு துரும்பைக் கூட அசைக்க முடியவில்லை..!

ஆனால் ஒட்டுமொத்த பயங்கரவாதிகளின் இலக்காக இருக்கும் நம் பாரத பிரதமர் மோடி அவர்கள் இரண்டு மணி நேரத்தில் பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகளின் தயக்கத்தையும் மீறி முடிவு செய்யப்பட்ட பாகிஸ்தான் பயணம் மேற்கொண்டது இன்று உலகமே பாராட்டும் அளவில் நடந்துள்ளது...
பாகிஸ்தான் பாதுகாப்பு வீரர்கள் அணி வகுத்து நிற்க மோடியின் ராஜநடை...

பாட்ஷா வசனத்தை அப்படியே உல்டா செஞ்சு பார்ப்போமே...!
"உடம்புல நாடி, நரம்பு, ரத்தம், சதை, புத்தி எல்லாத்துலயும் தைரியமும், அரவணைக்கும் குணமும் ஊறிப்போயிருக்கற ஒருத்தராலத்தான் இப்படி செய்ய முடியும்".....! smile emoticon

ஒரு சேலை நெய்வது என்பது பல சிறுசிறு வேலைகளை கொண்ட பெரிய வேலையாகும்

ஒரு காலத்தில் நெசவு நெய்வது சௌராஷ்டிரா மக்களில் பெரும்பாலானோரின் குடும்பத்தொழிலாக இருந்தது. நாங்கள் குடியிருந்த தெருவில் காலை முதல் மாலை வரை இந்த தறிகளின் 'டக் டிக் டக் டிக்' சத்தம் கேட்காத வீடுகள் மிகவும் குறைவே. ஒவ்வொரு டக் டிக்கும் ஒரு தாள நயத்துடன் பட்டு நூலை குறுக்காக எடுத்துச் செல்லும் களியுடன் ஆடும் ஆட்டத்தில் பிறப்பதே அழகான சேலை. தறி நெய்பவரின் கைகள் இழுக்கும் கயிறு டக் என்றால் கால் கீழிருக்கும் கட்டையை அழுத்த, களி வடமிருந்து இடமாவோ, இடமிருந்து வடமாவோ ஒரு இழையை நெய்யும் அழகே அழகு.

வேடிக்கையாக இருக்கிறதே என்று நானும் பல முறை பக்கத்து வீடுகளில் தறி மேல் ஏறி கலாட்டா செய்திருக்கிறேன். ஆனால் அந்த வேகம், கை கால்களின் கோ-ஆர்டினேஷன் இல்லாததால் என்னால் ஒரு முறை கூட சரியாக செய்ய முடிந்ததில்லை.

பார்ப்பதற்கு எளிதாக இருக்கும் இந்த வேலை எவ்வளவு கடினம் என்பது செய்பவர்களுக்குத் தெரியும். ஒரு சேலை நெய்வது என்பது பல சிறுசிறு வேலைகளை கொண்ட பெரிய வேலையாகும். பட்டு நூலை வாங்கி அதை சிக்கில்லாமல் பிரித்து, பல வண்ண பட்டு நூல்களை டிசைன்களுக்கு ஏற்றவாறு சேர்த்து, தெருவில் பாவு பிரிப்பது என்று செய்து பிறகு தறியில் ஏற்றுவார்கள். அது ஒரு சேலையாக வெளிவரும் பொழுது அவர்கள் முகத்தில் பிறந்த குழந்தையை கையில் ஏந்தும் மகிழ்ச்சி ததும்பும். விசேஷ தினங்கள் நெருங்குகையில் ஓயாத தறி சத்தம் சொல்லாமல் சொல்லும் ஆர்டர்கள் முடிக்க வேண்டிய நேரமென்று!

தறி இருக்கும் வீடுகளில் குனிந்தே வளைய வருவார்கள். அதிக உடல் உழைப்பும், குறைந்த வருமானமும் கொண்ட இத்தொழில் இயந்திரமாக்கலுக்குப் பிறகு நலிந்து விட்டாலும் இன்றும் சில வீடுகளில் கைத்தறி நெசவுத் தொழில் தொடர்ந்து கொண்டு இருக்கிறது பல நெசவாளர்களின் குழந்தைகளும் படித்து நல்ல வேலைக்குச் செல்ல ஆரம்பிக்க, தறிகள் இருந்த இடம் மட்டுமே அவர்களின் வீடுகளில் நினைவுகளாக!

துயரங்கள் தீர்ந்து வேண்டியது நிறைவேறும்

குருவை முழுமையான நம்பிக்கையோடு பக்தியுடன் சேவிப்பவர்களுக்கு அவரின் கருணை மழை பொழியும். அப்படி சேவிக்கும் பக்தனின் கூடவே இருந்து காப்பாற்றுவதே அவரின் தர்மம். அவர்களின் துயரங்கள் தீர்ந்து வேண்டியது நிறைவேறும்.-ஸ்ரீ குரு சரித்திரம்.
குரு பிரம்மா குரு விஷ்ணு குரு தேவோ மகேஷ்வர. 
குரு சாக்ஷாத் பர பிரம்மா 
தஸ்மை ஸ்ரீ குருவே நம

Thought for the Day

Look at the blossoms in the garden! When the gardener plucks the flowers, the buds exult that tomorrow is their turn to be gathered into the gardener’s hands, and their faces are full of joy when they unfold in that hope. Do they feel any sadness? Do their faces droop? Are they any the less bright? No. The moment they know that the next day is their turn, they make themselves ready with great gusto and excitement. In the same way, you must be ready on the path of spiritual practice! Enthusiastically remember the name of the Lord every minute, without worrying and feeling sad that your turn is tomorrow or because someone died today. For people who transformed themselves into spiritual aspirants, their mind (manas) is Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna), their heart is Dwaraka (Lord Krishna’s playground), and their body is Kashi (holiest land of Lord Shiva).

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Develop the quality of love. Do not hate anyone. Develop the faith that whatever happens to you is good for you. Think that whenever you encounter any difficulty or suffering, you alone are responsible for it. On the other hand, if you insult anyone knowingly or unknowingly, that someone else may punish you some day. Pleasure and pain are the products of your own making. The merit or sin you commit, follows you like a shadow always. Many today give sermons to others, without following their own advice. What value will your advice have? Whenever you read or listen to a noble thought, it is of no value to you, until you practice it assiduously. Help your fellow human beings at least in a small measure. You will be helped in return, when you need it most. Never blame others for the difficulties you face. Never abuse anyone. Love all and treat everyone as your brothers and sisters.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

You can recognise a true spiritual aspirant through their good qualities.

A true spiritual aspirant will use only very soft, sweet, true, and pleasant words. - Baba

Look at the fish! Living as it does perpetually in water, has it rid itself of its foul smell to any extent? No. Inclinations (vasanas)won’t disappear as long as one’s heart is full of the illusion of egotism, even if one is immersed in many heart-purifying spiritual disciplines. If you really want to get rid of the feeling of “I” and “mine”, you must transform yourself and worship the Lord (Hari), without any likes and dislikes. Just as light and darkness can never coexist at the same place, love and hatred can’t coexist in the same heart. You experience joy and misery through the ear. Therefore as a spiritual aspirant, avoid the cruel arrows of hard words. Instead use sweet, pleasant and soft words suffused with truth. Speaking softly by adding falsehood will bring you misery. You can recognise a true spiritual aspirant through their good qualities.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sati Baba

Thought for the Day

As you celebrate Christmas today, bring to your mind the teachings, advice and warnings that Jesus gave and decide to direct your daily life on that path. His words must be imprinted on your hearts and you must resolve to practise all that He taught. You must pay attention to the lessons he elaborated in the various stages of his life. 'I am the Messenger of God,' he declared, first. Yes. Each individual has to accept that role and live as examples of Divine Love and Charity. The Guru must act as the alarm-clock; he should awaken the sleeper to one’s duty to oneself."Uththishtha! jaagratha," as the Upanishads proclaim - "Arise! Awake." And bear witness to the God within, in every thought, word and deed. The best way to resolve the confusions and conflicts that hamper moral, ethical, material, technological and spiritual progress is for man to live as fully as man ought to, and rise to the height of the Divine that is his Reality.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

You must think of God and offer prayers at least four times a day - at dawn, at noon, at sunset and before going to bed. This is the food for your soul. - Baba

God is the Eternal Power, omnipotent and omniscient. He is the cause and consequence - the potter, the clay and the pot. Without God, there is no Universe. God willed and the Universe happened, as His play, a manifestation of His power. Human beings embody His Will, His power, His Wisdom. But, they are unaware of this glory as the cloud of ignorance veils the Truth. Hence God sends saints and prophets, and even appears as an Advent to unveil the Truth, and to awaken and liberate mankind. Two thousand years ago, when narrow pride and thick ignorance defiled mankind, Jesus came as the embodiment of love and compassion, and lived amongst people, holding forth the highest ideals of life. ‘Christmas’ truly means the ‘Mass, held on the birthday of Christ’. It is a very sacred religious rite. To deal with it as a festival for drinking and dancing is very wrong. Spend Christmas in prayer.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Learn to live in love and harmony with all the members of your society.

To secure the grace of God you must adhere to right conduct and observe purity in thought, word and deed. - Baba

Embodiments of Divine Love! Wherever you may be, never give room for any differences. Everyone must get rid of all selfishness, self-interest and self-centeredness. Mutual regard (Mamatha), equipoise (Samatha)and forbearance (kshamatha) are basic qualities necessary for every human being. Hence develop love, forbearance and compassion. Realise that love is present in everyone. Get rid of all differences and adhere to your faith and traditions. Learn to live in love and harmony with all the members of your society. When differences of all kinds are given up, love will grow in you and you can have a direct vision of God. Without love, verbal prayers are of no avail. Divine love is the only unifier, motivator and harbinger of joy to everyone. God is love and God can be realised only through love. All saints and religions have emphasized the greatness of love, truth, sacrifice and unity. Therefore cultivate love.
Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Service is the highest form of worship and the best penance.

Service is the highest form of worship and the best penance

What does it mean when you say God descends as an Avatar?God out of His love, affection and compassion, comes down to the level of a human being and arouses the Divine Consciousness in humankind. When God finds that many people are desperately searching outside of themselves for God, He makes you aware of God within yourself. God is in fact the core in everyone. This chance, to realize God within, has been granted to you as a reward for merit acquired by you in many previous lives, so as to reach the highest goal of merging with the absolute. Every bird needs two wings to fly; a cart needs two wheels to be pulled along. To journey towards the highest goal, you need both faith and steadfastness - spiritual learning (vidya) and penance (tapas). Bhagavad Gita states, Knowledge of the Self (Atma Vidya) is the holiest. Knowledge(Vidya) shows the way, and the penance (tapas) makes you reach the goal. Both are necessary to attain the Ultimate.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Meditation does not mean sitting idle in a particular posture, like posing for a photograph

Follow at least one of the nine modes of devotion (Sravanam, kirtanam, etc.). It doesn’t matter how wealthy or learned you are; God is concerned only with the sincerity and purity of your mind and heart and the wholeheartedness and genuine nature of your love. Valmiki was a hunter. Nandanar was of a low caste. Kuchela was a poor man. Dhruva and Prahlada were five-year-old lads. Sabari was a tribal woman, illiterate and uncivilized. But all of them won God’s Grace in abundance, because of their wholehearted devotion, love and surrender. Follow Sabari’s example, who always thought of Sri Rama and His happiness, and dedicated all her thoughts, words, and deeds to Him alone, such that her every action was transformed and sublimated into the highest penance (tapas). Meditation does not mean sitting idle in a particular posture, like posing for a photograph. Like Sabari’s life, your life must become a continuous meditation wherever you are, and whatever you do. 

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Keep the name of the Lord always radiant on your tongue and mind; it will keep the antics of the mind under control. - Baba

Temple worship, company of sages, adoration of the Lord and recital of His name - these are external sources of light. Meditation, austerity and reflection (dhyana, tapas andmanana) — these are sources of inner illumination. Devoid of both, how can you experience the vision of divine glory? Once Tulsidas Goswami declared, “Do you require light inside the house as well as outside? If yes, then place the lamp on the doorstep!” So too, if you desire to experience the illumination of peace (shanti) within you and also spread it out, then place the name of the Lord on the tongue, which is the doorstep of your personality! The lamp on the tongue will not flicker, fade, or be put out by any storm. It will confer peace on you as well as on all whom you meet - in fact, the entire world.” Therefore, for your salvation, evoke the vision of the form with the Lord’s name on your tongue.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

There is only one wish fit to be entertained by the aspirant: the realisation of the Lord(Iswara Sakshatkara). There is no room in the mind for any other wish.

The one steady in wisdom stands closest in the company of the Lord. - Baba

The attitude of the worshiper and the worshiped is the seed of devotion (bhakthi). First, the worshiper’s mind is attracted by the special qualities of the object of worship. The worshiper tries to acquire these special qualities. This is spiritual discipline (sadhana).In the early stages of spiritual discipline, the distinction between worshiper and worshiped is full, but as the spiritual discipline progresses, this feeling diminishes and, when attainment is reached, there is no distinction whatsoever. Irrespective of the object of worship one has grasped, loved and sought by spiritual discipline, one should have firm faith that the individual self (jivatma) is the supreme Lord (Paramatma). There is only one wish fit to be entertained by the aspirant: the realisation of the Lord(Iswara Sakshatkara). There is no room in the mind for any other wish.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Reining in your senses is the growing in wisdom. - Baba

Lord of Death (Yama) is as omnipresent as Lord Siva! Yama is associated with the body (deha); He cannot affect the individual soul (jiva). Siva is associated with the individual soul, but He won’t allow the body to subsist for any length of time. The body is the essential vehicle for the individual soul to understand its real nature. Still who knows when the body may become the target for the attention of Yama? The individual soul, burdened with this destructible body, must grasp the above-mentioned caution and be all-eager to merge in Siva! No single moment that is passed by can be turned back. People usually delay doing some things; yesterday’s till today and today’s till tomorrow. For the tasks of spiritual discipline, there is no yesterday and no tomorrow. This very moment is the moment! The minute that just elapsed is beyond your grasp; so too, the approaching minute is not yours! Only those who have this understanding engraved in their heart can merge in Siva.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Turn all the expectations you have from the world unto yourself. That's the way to peaceful progress in life

"Women should realize that, irrespective of their education or position, their foremost obligation is to protect the home."-SWAMI

You cannot stand under a mango tree and expect oranges. What is even more foolish is blaming the mango tree for not fulfilling your expectations. So, either change your expectations according to the tree or find a tree that matches your expectations. Turn all the expectations you have from the world unto yourself. That's the way to peaceful progress in life. -BABA.

This is the royal road to the goal you have to reach.

To secure the grace of God you must adhere to right conduct and observe purity in thought, word and deed. - Baba

The inborn desires and mental impressions (samskaras) make or mar the individual (jivi); they are the steps that take all individual souls to the goal. Samskaras make the individual wade through loss and grief. Only through good mental tendencies you can attain the Lord. So every individual has to be wholly engaged in good actions(sath-karmas). Good and noble action is authentic worship (puja). It is the best form of remembering the Lord. It is the highest devotional song. It spreads love, without distinction and difference. It is service done as the duty of the individual. Be engaged in such noble actions(karmas). Revel uninterruptedly in the thought of the Lord. This is the royal road to the goal you have to reach.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the day

Why fear when I am here? Place your faith in Me. I shall guide you and guard you. - Baba

While struggling in the spiritual field, take on the Lord Himself as your protector. To instill courage in the child, the mother persuades it to walk a few steps and turns about, but she will never allow it to fall. If the child falters and is about to lose balance, she hurries from behind and catches it before it falls. The Lord too has His eyes fixed on the individual (jivi). He has in His hand the string of the kite, which is humanity. Sometimes He may give it a pull or push to loosen the hold; but whatever He does, be confident and carefree, for He is holding that string. This faith will harden into an innate desire (samskara) and will fill you with the essence of love (prema-rasa). The string is the bond of love and grace. You are the kite, bound to the Lord. Earn auspicious merit so the bond of love and grace is firm and grows.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Holy Thrusday

jai sai ram

                                                Help Ever,Hurt Never   --- BABA

good morning

Thought for the Day

While struggling in the spiritual field, take on the Lord Himself as your protector. To instill courage in the child, the mother persuades it to walk a few steps and turns about, but she will never allow it to fall. If the child falters and is about to lose balance, she hurries from behind and catches it before it falls. The Lord too has His eyes fixed on the individual (jivi). He has in His hand the string of the kite, which is humanity. Sometimes He may give it a pull or push to loosen the hold; but whatever He does, be confident and carefree, for He is holding that string. This faith will harden into an innate desire (samskara) and will fill you with the essence of love (prema-rasa). The string is the bond of love and grace. You are the kite, bound to the Lord. Earn auspicious merit so the bond of love and grace is firm and grows.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

As your day progresses, as one enters the field of daily work and toil, you are infused with the passionate quality (rajoguna). Before you take your lunch, meditate on the Lord again and dedicate the work, and the fruit derived from it to the Lord Himself. Start eating only after this act of devotion and grateful remembrance. This is the meaning of the noon (maadhyannika) worship. By observing this ritual, passion is kept in check and is overpowered by the satwic nature. During the day, people are possessed by a third nature, tamas or dullness. When evening descends, one hurries home, eats one’s fill, and is overpowered by sleep. But a duty still remains. To eat and sleep is the fate of idlers and drones. When the worst of the qualities, tamas threatens to rule, one must make a special effort to escape its coils by resorting to prayer in the company of those who extol the Lord, reading about the glory of God, the cultivation of good virtues, and the purposeful nursing of good rules of conduct. This is the prescribed evening worship(sandhyavandana).

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Twenty hammer strokes might not succeed in breaking a stone, but the twenty first might. Does this mean the first 20 blows were of no avail? No! Each stroke contributed its share to the final success which was the cumulative effect of all 21 strokes. So too, your mind is engaged in a struggle with the internal and external world. Needless to say, you may not always succeed. You can attain everlasting bliss by immersing yourself in good works and saturating your mind with the love of God. Infuse every moment of life with that love. Then evil tendencies will not obstruct you. When your mind dwells with the Lord always, you will be drawn automatically only toward good deeds. The objective of all spiritual practices is to destroy the mind, and some day, one good deed will succeed in destroying it, just like the 21st stroke. Hence no good deed is a waste - every little act counts!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

The Lord judges the devotee by the purity of their heart and not by the type of worship they perform.

To fix your mind on God, activities must be controlled. To successfully control them, you should overcome the handicaps of the gunas - satwa, rajas, and tamas. When these forces of natural impulse predominate and try to direct along their channels, you must pray to God to negate their pull. That is the first duty of a good devotee. The rule of nature is that the morning is the period of pure (satwic)quality, the noon of passionate (rajasic) quality, and the evening hour of dusk of dull (tamasic) quality. At dawn, the mind is calm and clear when awakened from the comfort of sleep liberated from agitations and depressions. In that mental condition, meditation on the Lord is very fruitful. This is the purpose of morning prayers (pratah-sandhya). But, ignoring the significance, people do rituals in a blind mechanical way. From now on perform the dawn worship after realising its inner and deeper meaning.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Have the Lord’s name within and the practice of your duty(swadharma) without. Even while engaging in selfless service, let your mind repeat the Lord’s Name. When rains pour on the mountain peaks and the water hurries down on all sides, no river emerges therefrom. However when the waters flow in a single direction, first a brook, then a stream, then a torrent, and finally a river is formed, and the rains reach the sea. Water that runs in one direction reaches the sea; water that flows in four directions soaks in and is lost. Mental tendencies (samskaras)are like this. Of what use are they if they merely come and go, this way today and that way tomorrow? The holy stream of good inborn desires must flow full and steady along the fields of holy thoughts and finally abide in the great ocean of bliss at the moment of death.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Avoid evil deeds, hateful and harmful thoughts, and don’t get attached to the world.

The net result of all this living and toiling is whatever comes to memory at the last moment of life. Therefore direct the entire current of life towards acquisition of the mental tendency (samskara) that you want to have during the last moment. The feeling that dominates the moment of death works with great force in the coming life. This truth must guide a person for the journey of this life too, for inborn desires are the wherewithal for this journey as well as for the journey after this. Therefore from 
tomorrow, always keep death, which is inevitable, before the eye of memory and engage yourself in the journey of life with good wishes for all, with strict adherence to truth, seeking always the company of the good, and with the mind always fixed on the Lord. Avoid evil deeds, hateful and harmful thoughts, and don’t get attached to the world. If you live thus, your last moment will be pure, sweet, and blessed.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Just as the woman should consider one person and one person alone as her master and husband, the man too has to be faithful to one woman and one woman alone, as his mate, his wife. She has to consider the husband as Divine and worship him and minister to and follow his desires for the fulfilment of her duty of loyalty to the husband (pativrata); so too, man should honour his wife as the ‘mistress of the home’ and act in accordance with her wishes, for she is the Grihalakshmi (Goddess of prosperity of the home). Only then can he deserve the status of ‘man’. Name and fame, honour and dishonour, vice and wickedness, good and bad are all equal and uniform to both men and women. There is no such thing as woman alone being bound and men being free; both are equally bound by the rules of dharma. Both will fall into adharma if they conduct themselves without due consideration of the attributes mentioned above.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

People have taught the eye, ear, and tongue the luxury of constant novelty. Now do the opposite. Turn your mind towards the good and examine every minute’s activities. Each deed is a chisel stroke shaping the rock of human personality. A wrong stroke may disfigure the rock. Therefore even the tiniest of acts must be done with great care and devotion. For a drowning person, even a reed is some support. So too to a person struggling in the sea of inborn desires (samskara), a few kind words might be of great help. No good deed is a waste; every bad deed has its consequence. So strive to avoid the slightest trace of evil activity. Keep your eyes pure. Fill your ears with stories of Divine; don’t allow them to listen to calumny. Use your tongue for uttering good, kind, and true words. Let it always remind you of God. Such constant effort will grant you victory.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

In ancient times, people never gave up the practice of Dharmaeven when threatened with death at the point of the sword. Now without even the slightest pressure from others, people slide down and fall into unrighteousness (Adharma). Practicing Dharma is not an ordinary affair. The one who does not practice dharma is as bad as dead; one who practices it is of the divine nature. Presently there is an urgent need to turn people onto the dharmic path through the traditional methods of counselling with good advice, sharing with them the attractive consequences of following the path, threatening to dissociate from those who do not, and inflicting punishment as a last resort. You should derive the greatest possible benefit from dharma and while following it, avoid causing any injury to yourselves or others. You must spread the glory of dharma by making yourself a shining example of the peace and joy it gives.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Everyone, be they learned or illiterate, should feel an overwhelming urge to know God. God has equal affection toward all His children, for to illumine is the nature of light. Utilising that illumination, some choose to read good books while others do their daily tasks, whatever they are! Similarly uttering God’s name, one can progress in the realisation of God, another may choose to do wicked deeds! It all depends on how you choose to use the light. But the Lord’s name is without blemish, always and forever. God’s name must be recited and listened to. For some ailments medicines are prescribed for external application while for others, they are to be consumed. But for this universal ailment of the cycle of birth and death (bhava-roga),the medicines prescribed are listening to spiritual discourses(sravana), singing God’s name (kirtana), and the like.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The Lord descends now and then to uplift the downtrodden and to reestablish righteousness (dharma). Clearly grasp this truth. Many who read the Bhagavad Gita take it that the Lord incarnates whendharma is ‘destroyed’ and when the forces of unrighteousness(adharma) begin to prevail. This is incorrect; The Gita does not say nor is there any basis to draw the conclusion that dharma gets destroyed. The word used is ‘diminish’ (glaani); that is to say, when the indications are that dharma is in danger, “The Lord will come to protect dharma from harm.” Lord Krishna did not say that He will come down to protect and preserve it after dharma has been destroyed! Of what use is a doctor after life has left? So too, the Lord will rush when the practice is declining or weakening. The protection of dharma is the task of the Lord, for dharma is the very breath of every soul (jivi).

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The body is the temple of the individual (jiva), so whatever happens in that temple is the concern of that individual. So too the world is the body of the Lord, and all that happens in it, good or bad, is His concern. From the observed fact of the relationship between the individual and the body, know the truth of the unobservable relationship of the Lord and creation. The relationship of the individual (jiva) and the Lord, the kinship between the two, can be grasped by everyone who acquires three chief instruments: (1) a mind unsullied by attachment and hatred, (2) a speech unsullied by falsehood and (3) a body unsullied by violence. Joy and peace do not reside in external objects; they are within you. But in your foolishness, you search for them outside yourself, in a world from which, today or tomorrow, you are bound to depart. Therefore, wake up now! Try to know the essence of the eternal truth. Try to experience the love that is God Himself. 

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The individual ‘I’ believes it is limited; but that is an illusion. It is the same Universal Spirit, imagining itself to be limited. This awareness can come to you either through a flash of intellectual analysis or a flash of Universal Love. The awareness is an act of identification which requires Love. Love is God; Love is the means and end. That is why there are no atheists for there is no being without love of some kind or other. And love of any kind, of any measure, is but a spark of Divinity. Love knows no fear, it promotes truth, it finds peace, it builds faith, and it promotes concord. To develop love, the easiest, highest and the most fruitful sacrifice is that of the ego. Crucify it and be free. Dedicate it to God, and be rich and happy beyond all your imagination.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The Lord is attained only through supreme devotion (para-bhakthi).Supreme devotion can be acquired only through spiritual wisdom (jnana).Spiritual wisdom can be cultivated only through faith (sraddha), and faith comes only through love. So how is love to be cultivated? Through two methods: 1. Always consider the faults of others, however big, to be insignificant and negligible. Always consider your own faults, however insignificant and negligible, to be big, and feel sad and repentant. By these means, you avoid developing bigger faults and defects, and acquire the qualities of brotherliness and forbearance. 2. Whatever you do, with yourself or with others, do it remembering that God is omnipresent. He sees, hears and knows everything. Discriminate between the true and the false, and speak only the truth. Discriminate between right and wrong, and do only the right. Endeavour every moment to be aware of the omnipotence of God.

Bagavan SRi Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

I have often said, “My Life is My Message”. Avatars make such a proclamation only to demonstrate their Divinity. They are children among children, men among men, and women among women, so that they may respond to everyone’s joy and sorrow, console them and infuse confidence and courage into their drooping hearts. Avatarsappear among humans since birds, beasts, trees, etc. have not slid into unnatural ways. It is only human beings pursuing the mirage of worldly happiness and sensual pleasure, who have forgotten the task for which they came to earth. God assumes human form only to restoreDharma and lead you back into the path of virtue and wisdom! Hence God is pleased with the rigorous adherence to Dharma. Practice righteousness, it will fill every moment of your life with bliss and the joy of self-realisation. God is everywhere. He is all-powerful. He sees everything. He resides in every heart and listens to every agony and prayer. Have faith in God.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The almanac might indicate that ten units of rain will fall, but even if you fold that news sheet ten times and squeeze, not a drop of rain can be extracted. Almanac’s purpose is to give information about rain. Rain is in the clouds above. After learning from scriptures, if you immerse yourself in spiritual practice, then the world and its worries will not affect you. It is only when you are far from practice that you experience suffering and feel pain. As you approach the marketplace, you hear a huge indistinct uproar. But when you enter it, you can clearly distinguish each conversation. So too until the reality of the Supreme(Paramatma) is known to you, you are overpowered and stunned by the uproar of the world! But when you practice sincerely, everything becomes clear and the Divine reality awakens within you. Until then, you will be caught up in the meaningless noise of argumentation, disputation, and exhibitionist flamboyance.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

When you desire to transform a silver statue into a Krishna idol, you cannot succeed by simply covering the silver idol with a cloth and uncovering it after a few seconds! You have to break the statue into pieces, melt the bits and pour the silver into the Krishna mould! So too when you yearn to transform yourself into Divine, you must break the pieces with the help of the attitude of detachment, melt them in the fire of wisdom (jnana), and pour your mind into the mould of devotion. Then the entire consciousness takes on the Divine Name, Form and Substance. Then, whatever is spoken or done or thought assumes the splendour and purity of the Divine. Remember, nothing will please God more than rigorous adherence to righteousness (Dharma). You can stick to the path ofDharma only if you are conscious of the Divine in everything that you see or hear, touch or taste.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai  Baba

Thought for the Day

The effulgence of your soul (Atma) is obscured by ego. Therefore, when ego is destroyed, all troubles end, all discontents vanish, and bliss is attained. Just as the sun is obscured by mist, so also, the feeling of ego hides eternal bliss. Even if the eyes are open, a piece of cloth or cardboard can prevent vision from functioning effectively and usefully. So too, the screen of selfishness prevents one from seeing God, who is in fact nearer than anything else. Develop the characteristics of truth, kindness, love, patience, forbearance and gratefulness. Ego (ahamkara) cannot subsist wherever these qualities reside, just as darkness disappears with sunrise. Many a spiritual aspirant (sadhaka), recluse, and renunciant (sanyasin) has allowed all excellences won by long years of struggle and sacrifice to slip away through this attachment to the self. Power without the bliss of God-realisation is a wall without a basement. 

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Creation or manifestation started, as the Upanishads say, when the One willed, Ekoham bahusyam - "I am One; let Me become Many. It is the integer (I) that fills the zeros after it with value and validity! The realisation of the function of the ‘I’ and the act of ignoring all zeros that come after it, is the end and goal of all human endeavour. When the mind is unruffled and the intelligence is sharpened, this realisation will take place naturally. Through the discipline of selfless service, you can easily recognise the One who appears as many. To attain that experience, service must be rendered either from a supreme sense of duty or as a humble dedicatory offering to the Highest, or in a spirit of total surrender to the will of God leaving all thought of the consequence to His grace. Any act of service done with these pure motives, will develop detachment and confer highest rewards.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

People develop in themselves an abounding variety of selfish habits and attitudes, causing themselves great discontent. The impulse for this comes from the power complex, the greed for accumulating authority, domination and power! The greed for things can never be eternal and full, and in fact, it is impossible for anyone to satiate their desires fully. A person might feel elated to become the master of all arts, owner of all wealth, possessor of all knowledge, or repository of all the scriptures, but from whom did the person acquire all these? You may think you earned all this through your own efforts and toil. The source from which all authority, talent, energy and power originate is the Lord of all. Ignoring Lord’s omnipotence, deluding oneself that the little greatness acquired is supreme, is indeed selfishness, conceit and pride (ahamkara). A genuine aspirant can be recognized by the characteristics of truth, kindness, love, patience, forbearance and gratefulness. Wherever these reside, ego cannot subsist; it has no place. Therefore seek to develop these.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Putlibai, Mahatma Gandhi’s mother, spent her life in the contemplation of God. She observed a vow wherein she wouldn’t partake food until she heard a cuckoo sing. One day it so happened that the cuckoo was not heard. Gandhi, a small boy then, couldn’t bear to see his mother fasting for a long time. He went behind the house and mimicked the cuckoo’s song. Putlibai felt extremely sad when she realised that her son was uttering a lie. She cried, “O God! What sin have I committed to have given birth to a son who speaks untruth?” Realising the immense grief he had caused to his mother by uttering a lie, Gandhi took a vow that he would never indulge in falsehood ever again. It is imperative that mothers train their children in moral values right from their childhood. Never overlook children’s mistakes – correct them immediately when they stray away from the righteous path and reward them for their good deeds.  

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Without the control of senses, spiritual practices (Sadhana) are ineffective; it is like keeping water in a leaky pot. Pathanjali (the celebrated sage and author of the Yoga Sutras) has said that when tongue is conquered, victory is yours. While the eye, the ear and the nose serve as instruments of knowledge about one particular characteristic of Nature, the tongue makes itself available for two purposes: to judge taste and to utter words - symbols of communication. You must control the tongue with double care, since it can harm you in two ways. When the tongue craves for some delicacy, assert that you will not cater to its whims. If you persist in giving yourself simple food that is not savoury or hot, but amply sustaining, the tongue may squirm for a few days, but it will soon welcome it. That is the way to subdue it and overcome the evil consequences of it being your master.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Be pure, alert and humble. I am in you; you are in Me. You hoist the Prasanthi flag in Prasanthi Nilayam. Remember, the flag is a sign that is significant for each and every one of you. It is a reminder of your duty to yourself, and so when you hoist it you must unfurl it in your own hearts. It reminds you to overcome the urge of low desires, of anger and hate when your desires are thwarted; it exhorts you to expand your heart so that you embrace all humanity, all life and all creation in its compass; it directs you to quieten your impulses and calmly meditate on your own inner reality. It assures you that, when you do so, the lotus of your heart will bloom, and from its center will arise the flame of divine vision, which guarantees Prasanthi (infinite peace) to every one of you.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

It serves no purpose if you merely acknowledge that the Lord has come but do not yearn to benefit by the Advent. Offer your entire self, your entire life, to Him; then your adoration will transform and transmute you so fast and so completely that you will merge into Him. He thinks, He feels and acts as you do; you think, feel and act as He does. You will be transformed as a rock is transformed by the sculptor into an idol, deserving the worship of generations of sincere men and women. In the process you will have to bear many a hammer stroke and chisel-wound, for He is the sculptor. He is but releasing you from petrification! So today, offer your heart to the Lord, and gladly let Him transform you. Practice the three disciplines of silence, cleanliness and forbearance. In silence you can hear the voice of God. Through cleanliness you earn purity. By forbearance, you cultivate love.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Every good student is an offering that every good teacher makes to the nation.

My dear students, the culture of Bharat is sublime, splendorous, sacred, and divine. It can fulfill all your high desires and quench your deepest thirst. First translate this awareness into actual practice and enshrine the experience in your hearts. Then share the joy of that experience with others. Never allow your minds to get agitated with limitless desires. You must render your homes bright by pleasing your parents. If you cause grief to them your entire life will be soaked in grief and your children, in turn, are sure to sink you in sorrow. Never be arrogant towards your parents just because you earned a degree. "Consider the Mother as God; consider the Father as God; consider the Teacher as God; consider the Guest as God." Follow this fourfold exhortation with full faith in its validity, derive bliss (Ananda) therefrom and inspire others by your example, so that the Motherland may progress and prosper. Fulfil this desire of Mine, with My blessings.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

In today’s novel civilization, emergence of discordant notes has silenced the call of the Divine from within. People are eager to make their lives a merry-go-round but it is turning into a painful tangle of troubles. They are not discovering the cause of the contradiction and are wasting their years in empty ephemeral pomp and pretense. Real progress means raising the level of moral life and brightening daily lives with goodness and godliness. Life must be an incessant process of repair and reconstruction, of discarding evil and developing goodness. Paddy grains must discard the husk to become consumable rice. Cotton must be reformed as yarn to become wearable cloth. Even gold nuggets have to undergo the crucible and get rid of alloys. So too, all of you must purify your instincts, impulses, passions, emotions and desires. Only then you can progress in good thoughts, deeds and words. Your intrinsic value is directly proportional to the level of transformation you achieve.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Every woman's mission is to bring home the practice of righteousness and morality

Past, present, or future, women are the backbone of progress and the heart of the nation. In fact they are its very breath. Charged with holiness, they play the chief role in the dharma of life. No nation can be built without investing in the culture of its women. The world can be lifted to its pristine greatness only through women mastering the science of realisation of Reality (Atma-vidya). If a nation is to have lasting prosperity and peace, women must be trained through an educational system that emphasises moral conduct and moral qualities. Every woman must be able to understand the problems of the family, society and the countries. She must render such service and help as she can, within the limits of her resources and capacity, to the family, community and the country. The present downfall in moral standards and absence of social peace is due to the neglect of this aspect of women's education. 

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

The welfare of women is an index of the welfare of the Nation

Adi Shankara, Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa attained exalted positions only due to the sacred feelings of their mothers. Gandhiji’s pure and loving mother had a maidservant named Rambha, who looked after children with love and care. One day, Gandhi came running to her and told that he was haunted by fear. Rambha said, “My dear child, where is the need to fear when all-protecting Ramachandra is with us always. Recite the Name of Rama whenever you are fear-stricken.” Since then, Gandhi chanted the name of Rama and did so till his last breath. The reason for My telling you all these examples is to emphasise that women and mothers have noble and sacred feelings. Since time immemorial, women are the repositories of truth and culture. Children take to the path of righteousness because of noble women. November 19 is celebrated as the Ladies’ Day so that you delve deep into the sacred qualities of women and treat them with respect.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Love and adore your mother as God. Respect her and uphold the spirit she signifies.

There is nothing greater than mother’s love. Mother’s words are always sweet. At times she may use harsh words, but understand that those words are meant only to correct you, not to hurt you. There may be a wicked son or daughter, but there can never be a wicked mother in this world. All of you must understand the value of mother’s love and her concern for you. Among the mother, father, teacher and God, mother is given the highest rank and priority. In the present times, modern youth do not care for their mother or parents. Many think they are highly educated and that the mother does not know anything. It is a great mistake to think poorly about anyone. Never look down upon your mother. Always remember the love she has for you, and at all circumstances strive and make her happy. God will be pleased with you only when you truly make your mother happy.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the day

Every aspirant who seeks the Eternal through the path of devotion should strive to keep away from the turmoils, cruelties, and falsehoods of this world and practice truth, righteousness, love, and peace. This is indeed the path of devotion. Those who seek union with God and those who seek the welfare of the world should discard as worthless both praise and blame, appreciation and derision, prosperity and adversity. They should courageously keep steady faith in their own innate reality and dedicate themselves to spiritual uplift. No one, not even a great spiritual personality (maha-purusha) or Avatar, can ever escape criticism and blame. Learn from their lives. Great souls hold on to truth and live by them. Those who indulge in criticism or blame will realise their greatness in time. As aspirants, stay away from ignorant people and desist in discussing your beliefs and convictions with them. Become immersed in holy books and be in the company of the Lord’s devotees.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sthya Sai Baba