தேசம் காப்போம்

இந்து மதம் அழிய வேண்டும். இந்து கோவில்கள் இல்லாமல் செய்ய வேண்டும் என்பது வெறும் மதக்காழ்ப்புணர்வு மட்டுமல்ல. இந்தியாவை துண்டாட வேண்டுமென்றால் இந்து மதம் அழிய வேண்டும்.

ஏனென்றால் இந்தியாவை இணைத்து இருப்பது இந்து மதம் தான். பல்வேறு கலாச்சாரங்கள் கொண்ட இத்தேசத்தில் ஒவ்வொரு மாநிலத்திலும் வேறு வேறு மொழிகள், பழக்கவழக்கங்கள், கலாச்சார வேறுபாடுகள் இருந்தாலும் இந்தியாவை ஒன்றிணைப்பது இந்து மதம். பிஹாரிக்கும் சிவன் தெய்வம் எனக்கும் சிவன் தெய்வம். ஒடிசாவிலும் கிருஷ்ணன் கடவுள் குஜராத்திலும் கிருஷ்ணன் கடவுள். காஷ்மீரத்திலும் ராமரை வணங்குகிறார்கள் வங்காளத்திலும் ராமர் வணங்குகிறார்கள்.

இப்படி இந்திய மாநிலங்களை ஒன்றிணைப்பது இந்து மதம் தான். இந்தியாவை வேறு படுத்த வேண்டுமென்றால் இந்துமதத்தை சிதைக்க வேண்டும். அப்படி சிதைக்க நினைக்கும் சக்திகள் தமிழகத்தில் உண்டு என்பது எல்லோருக்கும் தெரியும். அவர்கள் அவ்வப்போது சில விஷயங்களை கையில் எடுப்பார்கள்.

தமிழகம் தேசிய நீரோட்டத்தில் இருந்து விலகி இருப்பதை உறுதி செய்து கொள்வது அவர்கள் பொறுப்பு. இந்த அவர்கள் யாரென்று நான் சொல்லி உங்களுக்கு தெரியவேண்டியது இல்லை. கோயில்களில் அவர்கள் அவ்வப்போது கை வைப்பார்கள்.

அனைத்து சாதியினரும் அர்ச்சகர் ஆகலாம் என்று ஒன்றை கிளப்புவார்கள். இப்போது கொண்டு வந்திருப்பது தமிழில் குடமுழுக்கு, தமிழில் மட்டுமே வழிபாடு என்பது.

இவர்கள் சொல்வதெல்லாம் மேம்போக்காக பார்த்தால் சரியானது தானே என்று தோன்றக்கூடும். இந்து மதத்தின் மீதும் இந்தியாவின் மீதும் மாறா பற்று இருக்கும் சில நண்பர்கள் கூட அவர்களின் பிரச்சாரத்தால் இது சரியான ஒன்றுதானே, ஏன் இதை எதிர்க்க வேண்டும்? தமிழ்நாட்டில் தமிழிலேயே வழிபாடு மேற்கொள்வது என்ன தவறு என்று கேட்கிறார்கள் இந்த பதிவு அவர்களுக்குத்தான்.

சரி..தமிழ்நாட்டில் தமிழிலேயே எல்லா வழிபாடும் நடக்கிறது என்று வைத்துக் கொள்வோம். அப்போது தமிழர்களுக்கு வழிபாடு புரியும் என்கிற உங்கள் வாதத்தையும் அப்படியே ஏற்றுக் கொள்கிறேன். வெளிமாநிலத்தில் இருந்து வருபவர்களுக்கு...? அவர்களுக்கு எப்படி புரியும்?

அவர்களுக்கு ஏன் புரிய வேண்டும்? புரியாவிட்டால் வரவேண்டாம் என்று நீங்கள் சொல்வதுதான் இந்த சதியின் நோக்கமே. வேறு எங்கும் இருந்து இங்கே யாரும் கோயில்களுக்கு வரக்கூடாது. இது முதல் படி.

அடுத்து தமிழில் வழிபாடு நடக்கும் கோயில்கள் மட்டும்தான் நமக்கு உரியது என்கிற எண்ணம் சிறிது சிறிதாக விதைக்கப்படும். இங்கிருந்து காசி, பத்ரிநாத், கேதார்நாத் போன்ற புண்ணிய ஷேத்திரங்கள் செல்பவர்கள் தமிழ் பற்று இல்லாதவர்கள் என்கிற நிலை தோற்றுவிக்கப்படும்.

அவ்வளவு ஏன்? அருகே இருக்கும் திருப்பதி சபரிமலை போன்ற புனித ஸ்தலங்கள் கூட இந்தப் பட்டியலில் சேர்ந்துவிடும். ஏனென்றால் அங்கே தமிழ் வழிபாடு செய்ய வேண்டும் என்று கேட்டால் உதைக்க வந்துவிடுவார்கள். எனவே அங்கே தமிழ் இருக்கப்போவதில்லை.

ஏற்கனவே இங்கே ஆயிரம் கோயில்கள் இருக்க திருப்பதிக்கு ஏன் செல்லவேண்டும் என்கிற பேச்சுக்கள் எல்லாம் சமீபத்தில் எழுந்தன.

இப்போது இங்கே இருந்து சமஸ்கிருதத்தை விரட்டுவார்கள். பின்பு வேறு எங்காவது சமஸ்கிருதம் இருந்தால், அங்கே நீங்கள் போனாலும் விரட்டுவார்கள். இதற்கெல்லாம் நீங்கள் செவி சாய்த்துக் கொண்டு துணைபோக போகிறீர்களா?

சமஸ்க்ருதம் பார்ப்பன மொழி என்கிற அவர்களின் பிரச்சாரத்திற்கு மீண்டும் மீண்டும் செவி சாய்ப்பதை விட்டொழியுங்கள். சமஸ்கிருதம் நம் ஆன்மீக கலாச்சார தெய்வீக மொழி. இந்து மதத்தின் அடிப்படையே வேதங்கள் தான். அந்த வேதங்கள் இருப்பது சமஸ்கிருதத்தில் தான். சமஸ்கிருதத்தை நாம் காக்க வேண்டியது இன்றியமையாதது. இது ஒரு சாதாரண மொழி அல்ல என்பதை உணருங்கள்.

இந்துமதத்தை அழிக்க வேண்டுமானால் முதலில் சமஸ்கிருதத்தை ஒழிக்கவேண்டும். பார்ப்பனர்களை இல்லாமல் செய்யவேண்டும் என்பதுதான் அவர்களின் நோக்கம்.மறைமுகமாக நீங்களும் அதற்கு துணை போகிறீர்கள். மற்ற மதங்களில் உள்ள வழிபாட்டுத் தலங்களில் எல்லாம் தமிழை கேட்காதவர்கள் இங்கு மட்டும் நுழைகிறார்கள் என்றால் என்ன அர்த்தம் என்று நீங்கள் புரிந்து கொள்ள வேண்டாமா?

நம் கோயில்களில் தமிழுக்கான இடம் எப்போதும் இருந்துதான் வருகின்றது. தேவாரம் திருவாசகம் நாலாயிர திவ்யப் பிரபந்தங்கள் எல்லாமே பாடப்பட்டு வருகின்றன. யாரும் அவற்றை எதிர்க்கவில்லை.

ஆனால் அந்தந்த கோயில் ஆகம விதிப்படி சமஸ்கிருதத்தில் வேத கோஷங்கள் மந்திரங்கள் வழங்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றன. நாமும் உணர்வுபூர்வமாக இத்தனை ஆண்டு காலமாக ஒற்றுமையாக ஒன்றி வருகிறோம். திடீரென்று அந்தந்த பிராந்தியத்திற்கு ஏற்ப அந்தந்த மாநில மொழிகளில் எல்லோருமே பயன்படுத்திக் கொண்டு வந்தால் அந்த ஒற்றுமையும் ஒன்றுதலும் உணர்வு ரீதியாக நம்மிடையே இருக்குமா? இருக்கவே முடியாது. கொஞ்சம் கொஞ்சமாக நம் கலாச்சாரத்தையும் கோயில்களையும் இல்லாமல் செய்ய ஒரு வழி தான் இந்த திடீர் தமிழ் பற்று.

இதை உணராமல் போலி தமிழ் பற்றுக்கு பலியாகி விடாதீர்கள். நீங்கள் மட்டும் தமிழன் அல்ல, நானும் தமிழன் தான். ஆனால் விழிப்புடன் இருக்கும் தமிழ் பேசும் இந்து. அதைவிட முக்கியமாக இந்தியன்.

Thought for the Day

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. Live, avoid evil deeds and 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. Disciplined striving throughout life is needed to ensure this consummation. The mind has to be turned over to good mental tendencies (samskaras). Everyone must examine themselves rigorously, spot defects, and struggle to correct them. When people uncover and realise their own defects, it is like being reborn. People then start anew, from a new childhood. This is the genuine moment of awakening.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

A merchant calculates debit and credit at the end of a week, month, year and draws up the balance sheet to arrive at one value — his earnings. So too, in this business of life, everything ends leaving some net positive, after all the give and take is accounted for. The experiences that persist to the very last moment of life, the two or three that well up into consciousness when one recalls all that has happened in life, these are the genuine achievements. At the point of death, if one yearns to cater to the tongue, it is proof that throughout life the tongue has been the master. Or if a woman remembers her child and seeks to fondle it, the inner desire (samskara) of child-love has been predominant all through life. It proves that all other experiences have been thrown into oblivion. Therefore, direct the entire current of life towards acquisition of the mental samskara that you want to have during the last moment. Fix your attention upon it, day and night.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Many people slander image worship, but its basis is really one’s ability to see the macrocosm in the microcosm. The value of image worship is testified by experience; it doesn’t depend on one’s imaginative faculty. What is found in the form of the Lord (Virat-swarupa) is also found, undiminished and unalloyed, in the image form (swarupa). Images serve the same purpose as metaphors and similes in poetry. They illustrate, amplify and clarify. Joy comes not through the shape and structure of things but through the relationship established. Not any child but her own child makes the mother happy. So also, with each one and with all things in the Universe, if you choose to establish that kinship, that pure divine love (Iswara prema), then truly an overpowering joy can be experienced! Those who have felt it will definitely understand this truth!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

For some ailments medicines are prescribed for external application while for others, they are given for internal use. But for this universal ailment of the cycle of birth and death (bhava-roga), listening to spiritual discourses (sravana), singing God’s name (kirtana), and other medicines are prescribed for external and internal use. One has to utter as well as hear the Lord’s name. God has equal affection toward all His children just like the nature of light is to shed illumination on all. Utilising that illumination, some can read good books and others can do their daily tasks, whatever they are. So too, uttering God’s name, one can progress in the realisation of God, another can even do wicked deeds! It all depends on how you use the light. But the Lord’s name is without blemish, always and forever.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The body is the temple of the individual, so whatever happens in that temple is the concern of the 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 individual and the body, know the truth of the unobservable fact of the Lord and the world. The relationship of the individual and the Lord 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 inhere in external objects; they are in you yourself. But in your foolishness, you search for them outside yourself in a world from which you are bound to depart, today or tomorrow. Try to know the essence of everything, the eternal truth. Try to experience the love that is God itself. Discriminate at every turn, accepting what is true and discarding the rest.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Those who seek union with God and 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. So, let aspirants keep away from all such waverers and ignorant people, and desist from discussing their beliefs and convictions with them. Let them become immersed in holy books and be in the company of devotees of the Lord. Later, rich with the experience of realisation and courageous on account of that contact with reality, they can mix in any company without danger and even endeavour to direct other minds on to the truth that they themselves have seen.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

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, feel sad and repent sincerely. Through these methods, you help yourself not commit big errors and faults; you also 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 and hears every word and knows everything you do. Whatever you speak remember that God hears every word; discriminate between the true and the false, and speak only the truth. Whatever you do, discriminate between right and wrong and do only the right. Endeavour every moment to live in the awareness of the omnipotent Lord.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Some aspirants are so frightened by troubles, losses, and difficulties to even begin their spiritual endeavor, and so remain aloof. Some devotees, after undertaking the spiritual journey and travelling some distance, are depressed and defeated by obstacles and disappointments and give up in the middle. Yet others steadfastly adhere to the spiritual path with calmness and courage, whatever the nature of the travail, however hard the road - these are of the highest type. You may be deluded by attachment to this illusory world and attracted by temporal joy, but never barter away the means to achieve permanent and complete happiness. Carry on your spiritual duties with full devotion. God cannot be experienced without faith and steadfastness. The Lord comes only through supreme devotion (para-bhakti); supreme devotion comes only through spiritual wisdom (jnana); spiritual wisdom comes only through faith (shraddha); and faith comes only through love (prema).

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

If the I-consciousness produces the pride “I know all”, a fall is inevitable; this delusion causes death. The secret of salvation lies in the realisation of this danger; rebirth is inevitable if this danger is not averted. Aware of all this, if you get immersed in spiritual practice, then the world and its worries will not affect you. It is only when you are far from this truth that you suffer, feel pain, and experience travail. At a distance from the bazaar, one hears only a huge indistinct uproar. But as one approaches it and walks into it, one can clearly distinguish the separate bargainings. 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 once you enter deep into the realm of spiritual endeavour, everything becomes clear and the knowledge of the 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

Mere punditry is of no use at all; the Vedas, the Upanishads and the scriptures are doctrines for living out in daily practice. Without this practice, whatever be the wealth of words or the standard of scholarship, it is all a colossal waste. To bring these teachings into one’s actual life, one has to scotch the feeling “I know”, open one’s eyes to the real essence, and introspect on it. Then one can attain bliss, without fail. The almanac might indicate that it will rain ten units of water, but even if the calendar is folded ten times and squeezed, not a drop of water can be extracted. The purpose of the calendar is not to give rain but only to give information about it. So too, the scriptures can give only information about doctrines, axioms, rules, regulations, and duties. They give instruction in the methods of attaining peace and liberation. But they aren’t saturated with these essences of bliss. One has to discover the path, direction, and goal as described in them; then, one has to tread the path, follow the direction, and reach the goal.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

A person who is a genuine vehicle of power can be recognised by the characteristics of truth, kindness, love, patience, forbearance and gratefulness. Wherever these reside, ego (ahamkara) cannot subsist; it has no place. Therefore seek to develop these virtues. The effulgence of the Divine Self (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, 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 anyone and anything else in the Universe.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

People develop in them an abounding variety of selfish habits and attitudes, causing great discontent for themselves. The impulse for all this comes from the greed for accumulating authority, domination and power. The greed for things can never be eternal and full. In fact, it is impossible to attain the level of satiation. 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? There must be someone greater. One might even claim that one earned all this through their own efforts, labour and toil. But surely someone gave it to them in some form or other. This one cannot gainsay. The source from which all authority and all power originate is the Lord of all. Ignoring that omnipotence and deluding oneself that the little power one has acquired is one’s own is indeed selfishness, conceit and pride (ahamkara).

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Meditate on God as truth, as love. It is possible to realise Him in whatever form you meditate upon. Be always in the good company (satsang) of His devotees. Through this good company, discrimination and renunciation (viveka and vairagya) will be implanted in you and will grow. These will strengthen the spirit and endow you with inner peace. Your mind will then merge in God. In everything you do, speak and act truthfully, using all the strength and talent with which you are endowed. At first, you might fail in this and encounter difficulties and sufferings. But, ultimately, you are bound to succeed and achieve victory and bliss. Only truth conquers, not untruth (satyameva jayate, nanritam). Through your behaviour and way of life, you can realise the truth; you can indeed realise God (Paramatma). God alone is real. God is truth. The Supreme Lord is love.

Bagavan Sri Sri sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Worship (puja) is not merely plucking a flower and placing it on top of a beautiful image of God; do not forget the gardener who toiled to nurse the plant and gave the flower – remember, he is also a worshipper. Real spiritual wisdom (jnana) is true understanding, it is not merely an intellectual accomplishment. It is only when food is given, that the body can function. Even the acts preceding a sacrifice is an offering (yajna). One utilises the world to worship the Lord, to establish peace and justice in society, and to control and coordinate the functions of the body. All action done for the sake of these three goals is sacrifice. The first is called a sacrificial ritual (yajna); the second, charity (dana); and the third, penance (tapas). All human acts, by everyone, anywhere in the world, must subserve these three needs!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Today is Sankranti, which marks the commencement of Uttarayana, the auspicious and sacred time. At least from today onwards, develop noble feelings. Follow the sacred path. Then your future will certainly be safe and secure. With prayer to God, you can achieve anything in life. I want you to pray. I am always with you, in you, above you, and around you. Make efforts to instill such faith and devotion in fellow human beings. That will make Me very happy. Happiness lies in union with God. Hence contemplate on God incessantly. Never give scope for anxiety or worry thinking, “Examinations are approaching. How am I going to face them? Will I pass?” Do not give scope for despair and despondency with such negative attitude. Have faith in God. Do your duty and face any situation with courage. Then, the result is bound to be good. Love is everything. Love is God. Live in love.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The festival of Sankranti is arriving in all its beauty and splendour. This day is no ordinary day. It marks the beginning of the sacred Uttarayana (northward journey of the Sun). It confers on us plenty, prosperity and helps us develop virtues and undertake sacred activities. You can conquer the entire world when your thoughts are noble. When you fill your heart with worldly thoughts and feelings, you will not be able to practice your innate divine qualities. Hiranyaksha, Hiranyakasipu, Duryodhana and Kamsa were by no means ordinary. Though they were very strong in their body and mind, they became weak as they were immersed in worldly feelings. Do not fill your heart with worldly feelings. Every individual is endowed with mighty power and intelligence. Develop virtues, noble thoughts and sterling character and you will accomplish great heights!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

On this New Year day, you should resolve that you will start every day with love, spend the day with love, fill the day with love, and end the day with love. People are afraid what would happen this year, and whether it would be a better year than the last. It is not the particular year that matters. Cultivate good thoughts, speak good words and do good deeds with the broad view that everyone in the world should be happy. Give up your evil thoughts and evil qualities as they are the cause for all sufferings in the world. Whatever work you do, keeping God as your guide and saviour, will surely yield success. God is your only true friend. He is always with you, in you and beside you. You must wish for everyone to be happy. Everyone must fill their hearts with pure love. Then the country and the world will prosper and everyone will be happy!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

On this New Year day, you should resolve that you will start every day with love, spend the day with love, fill the day with love, and end the day with love. People are afraid what would happen this year, and whether it would be a better year than the last. It is not the particular year that matters. Cultivate good thoughts, speak good words and do good deeds with the broad view that everyone in the world should be happy. Give up your evil thoughts and evil qualities as they are the cause for all sufferings in the world. Whatever work you do, keeping God as your guide and saviour, will surely yield success. God is your only true friend. He is always with you, in you and beside you. You must wish for everyone to be happy. Everyone must fill their hearts with pure love. Then the country and the world will prosper and everyone will be happy!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

In this worldly life love is manifesting in several forms such as the love between mother and son, husband and wife, and between relatives. This love, based on physical relationships, arises out of selfish motives and self-interest. But the love of the Divine is devoid of any trace of self-interest. It is love for the sake of love alone. This is called Bhakti (devotion). One characteristic of this love is to give, not receive. Secondly, love knows no fear. Thirdly, it is love for love's sake and not for selfish motives. All these three angles of love jointly connote Prapatti (Surrender). When one revels in this attitude of Prapatti, one experiences the bliss of the Divine. For this, the prime requisite is Kshama (forgiveness and forbearance). Only a person who has this attitude of Kshama can be considered to be endowed with sacred love.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

When you perform an activity (kriya) as an offering to the Lord, your good, the higher good, and the highest good (swartha, parartha, and paramartha) - all become one. First, I and you become we. Next, we and He become unified. The individual soul (the ‘I’ or jiva) should accomplish identity first with the creation (prakriti or ‘you’) and then with the Supreme Spirit (He or Paramatma). This journey is the significance of chanting the mantra Om Tat Sat. Today, yesterday and tomorrow, Om Tat Sat, is, was, and will be. ‘He’ and ‘I’ and the spiritual practice (sadhana) is also always there. Just as the sun is inseparable and is never apart from its rays, under no circumstances should any aspirant be without their spiritual practice. It is only when spiritual aspirants adhere to their spiritual disciplines in such an incessant manner that they can be said to be one with Om.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

When you look at everyone around you with love, God will also look at you with love. In whatever situation you may be, you should never show anger, jealousy, hypocrisy or pomp. Do not treat others with anger or hatred. By experiencing your selfless love, others also will also grow in love. When you treat others with love, they will also return that love in thoughts and words towards you. On the other hand, if you choose to be angry with them, they will also behave angrily with you. You should not create distance between one another by your talk or conduct. Draw everybody close to you with love. Then all of you will become united. Each one of you will also attain proximity with God. God is the embodiment of love. He protects the entire mankind by His love. Hence, embodiments of love, develop selfless love in you, more and more!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Till the time mother has strength, she nourishes her children. The children should nourish their mother in the same way. God has given us human birth to nourish and nurture each other. What for are relations like brothers and sisters? Not merely for the sake of division of property and wealth. These relations are for developing love and sharing it with each other. Real relations are those who share love with each other. Some people express great love for others, but do not show the same love towards their mother and father in their own homes. First and foremost, we should love our parents and then, everyone else. Remember we should not limit our love to our friends and relatives alone; we should love all. Only then God will shower His love on us. When we see an injured person on the road, we should not show indifference towards them. Howsoever urgent may be the work we are attending to, we should do our bit to alleviate their suffering. Then God will manifest before us and fill our hearts with love.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Our Upanishads teach us the paths of karma, upasana, and jnana yogas. The essence of karma yoga (path of action) is to perform all actions with dedication as an offering to the Lord, for His pleasure. Upasana yoga (path of worship) is loving God wholeheartedly with harmony and purity in thought, word, and deed (trikarana suddhi). It is not true upasana if you love God merely to achieve your worldly desires. Devotion should be love for love's sake. The followers of jnana yoga (path of wisdom) should consider the whole universe as manifestation of God. Firm faith that Divinity resides in all beings in the form of Atma is called Jnana. If you wonder how Ekatwa (Oneness) exists with so many different forms, names, different kinds of behaviour, different doctrines, etc., consider the fathomless ocean with infinite waves. Each wave is unique and different from the other in its size and shape, but are all different manifestations of one and the same water, and are also not different from the ocean.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Members of Sevadal! First and foremost, cultivate love in your heart. Whomsoever you come across, talk to them with love. Draw all those who are in trouble close to you. Then God will shower His love on you. How can you receive the love of God if you do not love your fellow beings? If you want to become deserving of God’s love, then first and foremost you should become deserving of the love of your fellow beings. God will help you if you help others. Help ever, hurt never. Never cause trouble to anyone. Love everyone. Lead your life with goodness of heart. Your heart should melt with free flowing love. Dear ones! You are not different from Me; I am in you and you are in Me. As I love you, you should also love one and all. You can achieve greatness only when you develop and share pure love from within. This is the service you must render.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Diversities in attitudes and practices are natural and should be welcomed; there is no need for one over-all, ironclad, hard faith. Rivalry amongst those following different paths cannot bring peace and prosperity to any country. Without the freedom to adopt faith, world cannot progress. India taught that a small group can never command the inexhaustible resources of the world. For the effective functioning of the community it is necessary to divide the work of the community among sections of the people and allot each the task of contributing its share to the common good. This facilitated diversity and mutuality. Diversities were approved for the practical application of spiritual powers and potentialities, therefore there is no need for factionalism and fights. There is an entrancing sense of mystery which, if explored, will enable you to visualize the One that underlies the many. Hence ancient texts proclaim, "One alone exists; wise describe it in manifold ways" (Ekam sat, viprah bahudha vadanti)!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

A time may come when you become tired and weak, then pray thus: “Lord, things have gone beyond my capacity. I feel further effort is too great a strain. Give me strength, O Lord!” Initially, God stands at a distance, watching one’s effort, like the teacher who stands apart when students answer an exam. Then, when one sheds attachment to sensual pleasures (bhoga) and takes to good deeds and selfless service, God comes nearer. Like Sun God (Surya-narayana), He waits outside the closed door. Like the servant doesn’t announce his presence or bang on the door but simply waits, knowing his employer’s preferences, God too waits! When the master opens the door just a little, the sun rushes in and promptly drives darkness out from within. Similarly, when God’s help is requested, He immediately presents Himself with extended hands to help. So what you need is only the discrimination (viveka) to pray and the spiritual wisdom (jnana) to remember Him.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

“Eating” doesn’t mean placing food on the tongue and tasting it; it is worthwhile only when food is chewed, swallowed, digested, assimilated into blood stream, and transformed into muscle and bone, into strength and vigour. So too, spiritual understanding must permeate and invigorate all moments of life. It must be expressed through all the organs and senses (karmendriyas and jnanendriyas). One must pace up steadily and reach this high stage. Mere accumulation of learning is not spiritual wisdom (jnana). Only good conduct (sat-guna) is spiritual wisdom. In order that one might do selfless service, a little eating (bhoga) has to be gone through. Such eating is part of the sacrifice (yajna). To make this body-machine function, the fuel of food has to be used. Food is not sacrifice, but it makes sacrifice possible. Therefore, eating food must not be laughed at as catering to greed or as feeding of the stomach. It must be understood as part of worship.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Students! You have performed a variety of gymnastic feats. You have distinguished yourselves in a variety of games and sports. Although these games have a value of their own in the physical plane, there is something greater than all the health benefits. It is this message: Life is a game, play it! You must learn to treat life itself as a big game. To achieve a good name and success in this game, you have to cultivate good habits. Good thoughts, good speech and good actions are the disciplines required in this game. When so much practice and effort are required to achieve success in games like tennis, how much more effort is needed to succeed in the game of life! In this game, if you wish to achieve a good name, uphold your ideals, and realise the Divine. You have to observe in your daily life, right thinking, right conduct and right attitude!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Once Vivekananda went to Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and asked him, “Have you seen God?” “Yes”, said Sri Ramakrishna. “In what form?”, asked Vivekananda. Ramakrishna replied, “I am seeing Him just as I am seeing you”. “Why then, am I unable to see Him?” Ramakrishna explained that if he yearned for God with the same intensity with which he was yearning for many other things, he too would experience God. Ramakrishna said that people shed tears for relations, wealth and many other aspects, but how many shed tears for God? Ramakrishna advised Vivekananda to yearn for God with all his heart and soul. God is then bound to manifest Himself to him. If you are keen to experience the Divine, you must devote yourself to the Divine. People undertake various troubles to achieve wealth, relations, position, and power. If they devote a small fraction of that time to thoughts of God, they would definitely experience freedom from the fear of death.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Concentrate on the love of God. Although one’s mother, father and preceptor are to be adored as divine beings, they are not God. God should be worshipped as mother, father, preceptor, kinsman, and friend. They all dwell in their respective abodes, but God dwells in your heart. Love the Lord who resides in your heart. All other objects of love are impermanent. By developing love, one sees the Divine in all beings. It is like wearing coloured glasses. If you see the world through the glasses of love, you will see love everywhere. The glasses and vision must be in harmony, and only with love, you can see loveliness in the world. It is through love that noble qualities such as kindness, compassion and empathy are fostered. Embodiments of Love! You are carrying on a variety of spiritual exercises (sadhanas). God does not seek your sadhana. Nor does He seek your devotion. He seeks only your love

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba