What is more important than the building of temples and going on pilgrimages?

 In past ages, many sages, kings and ascetics left home and dwelt in the solitude of the forests and having earned unlimited bliss themselves, they taught others the source of their bliss, namely, the Divine that is encased in the human. Remove the vices of lust and hatred, and put out the raging flames of anger and greed; then, they said, the innate shantam and soukhyam 

(tranquillity and happiness), the swarupam and swabhavam (one's own form and nature)

of man, will manifest unhindered! Shantam is the swarupam, soukhyam is the swabhavam of man. Individual reconstruction is much more important than the construction of temples. Multiply virtues, not buildings; practise what you preach, that is the real pilgrimage; cleanse your minds of envy and malice, that is the real bath in holy water. Of what avail is the name of the Lord on the tongue, if the heart within is impure?

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

How firm should our love for God and faith in the Divine be?

 The green vitality of a tree is a sign of the Divine Will, which sends its roots deep into the soil. The roots keep the tree safe from storms, holding it fast against the violent tug of winds. So too, if the roots of love in man go down into the springs of the Divine within him, no storm of suffering can shake him and crash him into disbelief. As a lump of sugar sweetens every drop of water in the cup, the eye of love makes every person in the world friendly and attractive. The simple milkmaids of Gokul saw each other as Krishna; such was their overwhelming love for the Divine Incarnation. The Bhagavata, where their love and the love of many other devotees of the Lord are described, is a textbook of Divine Love, Bhakti. Mahabharatha, which describes the exploits and excellences of Krishna, is a textbook of Dharma, of ethics, of social and political life, as corrected and straightened by the supremacy of the Right. Begin loving service, this day, this moment. Each act will urge you to the next, for the thrill is so inspiring!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Which is the best form of service we can offer to another?

 One there was a king who questioned many a scholar and sage who came to his court, "Which is the best service and which is the best time to render it?" He could not get a satisfying answer from them. One day while pursuing the forces of a rival king, in the thick jungle he got separated from his troops; he rode a long way, exhausted and hungry, until he reached a hermitage. There was an old monk who received him kindly and offered him a welcome cup of cool water. After a little rest, the king asked his host the questions that were tormenting his brain: "Which is the best service?" The hermit said, "Giving a thirsty man a cup of water." "And, which is the best time to render it?" The answer was, "When he comes far and lonely, looking for some place where he can get it." The act of service is not to be judged, according to the cost or publicity it entails; it may be only the offering of a cup of water in the depths of a jungle. But the need of the recipient, the mood of the person who offers - these decide whether the act is gold or lead.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

What is the purpose of our human body?

 The Lord has endowed man with the body and so, every limb and every sense is worthy of reverent attention. Each must be used for His Glory. The ear must exult when it gets a chance to hear wonderful tales of God. The tongue must exult when it can praise Him. Or else, the tongue of man is as ineffective as that of frogs which croak day and night, sitting on a marshy bank. When Duryodhana told Krishna that he was not afraid of God and man, he was indeed pitiable! The animal (pasu) fears; the beast (mriga) terrifies. Man should be neither. He should neither terrify nor get terrorised! He must be neither a coward nor a bully. If a coward, he is an animal; if a bully he is an ogre! It’s because you feel the urge to use the body with which you have been endowed for this higher purpose that you are in Prasanthi Nilayam. The kinship amongst you and of all of you with Me is ageless, eternal! It’s not based on worldly relationships; it’s based on aspirations of the heart! It’s Prasanthi-nilaya-sambandham, bond of the abode of Supreme Peace!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

What is the continuous yajna or sacrificial worship we must perform and why?

 One must constantly strive to get rid of evil tendencies. Inherited evil traits rooted in the mind must be given up at the sacrificial altar. Of these traits, the worst are hatred and envy. They arise from intense selfishness. They are qualities of a leopard and should not find a place in a human being. Some people try to pretend they have overcome anger, hatred, jealousy and pride. The devices adopted by such persons are only the cunning tricks of the fox. As these traits make their appearance from time to time, they should be immediately cast off. This calls for continuous internal yajna (sacrificial worship), as against the external yajna which is performed only once a year at one particular place. Internal yajna must be performed at all times, in all places and under all circumstances. The sacrificial altar for this yajna is within each one of us. Whenever an evil thought or desire occurs, it should be mercilessly scotched. Only by constant vigilance and continuous endeavour, divine grace can be earned.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

What are the false identities we must discard?

 If anybody accosts a person and asks him, "Who are you?", out of his identification with the body he gives his name in reply. In answer to further questions, he introduces himself as a doctor, a farmer, or student, or the like. When the enquiry goes further, he identifies himself with his nationality as an American, an Indian, a Pakistani or so on. When you examine these answers deeply, you will find that none of them gives the truth. He got his name from his parents. It did not belong to him at birth. His identification with one or other of his professions is not true because he is not the profession. What then is the truth about him? "I am the Atma. That is my true Self." That is the truth. But people identify themselves with their names, professions and nationality and do not base their lives on the Atma. No driver of a car identifies with the car. Likewise, the body is a car and the Atma is the driver. Forgetting one's true role as a driver, one is identifying one's self with the body, which is only a vehicle.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

How can we bring forth the sacred and the divine aspects from within us?

 God incarnates to foster sadhus, it’s said. By sadhus, they do not mean the dwellers in Himalayan retreats; they mean the virtuous person who forms the inner reality of every one of you, the outer appearance being but a mask which is worn to delude yourself into esteem! Every one of you is a Sadhu, for you are prema swarupa, shanti swarupa, amruta swarupa (embodiment of bliss, peace and immortality). But, by allowing the crust of ego to grow thick and fast, the real nature is tarnished. By the action of Satsang (the company of God-minded persons), by systematic attention to self-control and self-improvement, man can overcome the delusion that makes him identify himself with the body and its needs and cravings! When you feed the cow with fermented gruel so that it may yield more milk, the milk emits an unpleasant smell. When man engrosses himself too much with the trifles of the world, his conduct and character become unpleasant.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

What should we do to escape the shackles of the ego?

 Man is fundamentally Divine, and so, naturally, the more he manifests the Divine attributes of Love, Justice, Truth and Peace, the more joy he is able to enjoy and impart. The less he manifests them, the more ashamed he ought to be that he is living counter to his heritage. The Tree of Life must be watered at the roots, but now, those who plan to raise the standard of living water the branches, the leaves and the blossoms. The roots are the virtues; they must be fostered so that the flowers of actions, words and thoughts may bloom in fragrance and yield the fruit of seva (service), full of the sweet juice of ananda (bliss). Planning for food, clothing and shelter is only promoting the well-being of the cart; plan also for the horse, the mind of man which must use the food, the clothing, the shelter and other material instruments for the high purpose of 'escaping from the ego into the universal'.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

What are the three debts every individual owes and how should they repay them?

 The first debt every individual owes is to the Divine. The second is to the sages. The third is to one's parents. A debt is an obligation arising out of what one has received from others. We can easily identify these debts in the human body from the different divine forces that are present nourishing and protecting it. This divine energy permeates the entire body; it is called the Rasa (Divine Essence). We owe a debt of gratitude to the Divine who has not only endowed us with this precious human body but also sustains it. We shall be able to enjoy these gifts of the Divine only if we discharge this debt to the Divine. How is this to be done? It is by rendering service to other bodies saturated with the same Divine, by doing righteous deeds and consecrating all actions in the service of society. The debt to the Divine has to be discharged in full in this life itself or during many future lives. The earlier we repay this debt, the sooner we shall realise Divinity.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

How can we accomplish the profound act of surrender, with a simple practice?

 Repeat Soham (I am He), with every breath: 'So' when you take in and 'ham', when you exhale, 'So' means ‘He’ and 'ham,' means ‘I’ and when you complete the inhalation and exhalations, feel that 'So', namely, the Lord, and 'ham', namely, 'I' i.e., (you) are One! Later, after long practice, the idea of He and I as two separate entities will disappear and there will be no more So and ham. Those sounds will be reduced to O and M, it will be Om or Pranava. Repeat that sound afterwards with every breath and that will save you from bondage to birth and death, for it is the Pranavopasana (contemplation on Pranava) recommended in Vedas. This Soham recitation is a good means of restraining the mind from running away. Let the mind be ever attached to the Lord; then, it will not flee towards all directions. That is the meaning of Krishna’s exhortation: Sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam sharanam vraja - Giving up all other activities, surrender fully to Me. 

 Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Why and how should every one of us serve?

 Render your hearts cool with delight; share the delight with others; adore God in this delectable form. When you go into the qualifications needed for seva, you will know that a pure heart - uncontaminated by conceit, greed, envy, hatred or competition is essential; also what is required is faith in God, as the spring of vitality, virtue, and justice. Seva is the worship you offer to the God in the heart of everyone. Do not ask another which country or state you belong to, or which caste or creed you profess. See your favourite form of God in that other person; as a matter of fact, that person is not 'other' at all. It is His image, as much as you are. You are not helping some 'one individual'; you are adoring Me, in that person. I am before you in that form; so, what room is there for the ego in you to raise its hood? Duty is God; Work is worship. Even the tiniest work is a flower placed at the Feet of God.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Serve everyone whom God sends your way with pure love, intelligence, humility and efficiency

 The world today is torn into factions and groups that hate and hack each other. No method is considered too cruel if the aim is to destroy one's enemy. No one is aware of the innate Unity, the ever-present current of Divinity that animates every single living being on earth. You have the role now of demonstrating that all is not lost, that there are still people who believe in Truth, Righteousness, Peace and Love, that acts of loving service rendered in a spirit of humility and reverence are still making people happy, and that the day when the brotherhood of man and the Fatherhood of God will shine bright and beautiful is drawing and dawning near. All efforts are now being concentrated on the production of more food, the building of more houses and the manufacture of more cloth. But what is most needed today is a total effort to make man manifest more tolerance, more humility, more brotherliness, more compassion and deeper awareness of the springs of joy and peace that lie within the heart of each one. This country, Bharath, must be in the forefront of this spiritual adventure. Love is the solvent for the hardest of hearts.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

What are some definitive solutions to cleanse the mind of lust and greed, envy and hate?

 Each of you must take up some spiritual effort to cleanse your mind of lust and greed, of envy and hate. Come out of the well of ego into the sea of the Universal Spirit, of which you are a part. Force your mind to breathe the grander atmosphere of the Eternal by reminding it of God and His Glory, every second, with every breath when you repeat any one of His Names. Or, engage in some work which will take you out of your narrow self into the vaster magnificence; some task where you dedicate the fruit of karma to God, where you devote your time and energy to share your joy or skill or knowledge with fellowmen. Or, keep yourself surrounded always by persons devoted to the higher life; persons who will encourage you to move forward along the road towards the goal. By these means, you can achieve chittha shuddhi (cleansing of the mind), so that the Truth can be clearly reflected therein!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

How must we sanctify our life and keep our minds pure?

 Man today is dominated by selfishness. Insatiable desire fills his whole being. The number of such persons is growing without limit. How can they achieve anything great in life? Their daily round of activities consists of reading newspapers, watching video programmes and listening to the radio. Every moment their attachment to castes, creed and parochial interests is growing. Men today must learn to lead lives inspired by sheelam and tyaga (morality and sacrifice). Human relationships today are governed by friendship or enmity. The cause for either feeling is the mind. Hatred is bred by each one's thoughts. This may be seen from the hatred of Ravana towards Rama, of Shishupala and Dhantavakra towards Krishna and of Kauravas towards Dharmaja, who was an "Ajatashathru" -  incapable of hating anybody. There is no need to worry about the enmity of others towards you. You develop a friendly attitude towards all. Ignore the abuses of others, because they serve only to diminish your sins and transfer them to the reviler. When a man praises another, the merits of the latter accrue to the former. Deem the critic as your friend, not the one who flatters you.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

What is the right way to seek God and win His grace?

 Do not forget God. What you should forget is the mundane world. God is omnipresent in all forms, everywhere, as declared in the Purusha Sukta. It is foolish to search for God, who is within you and outside you. When Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was asked whether he had seen God and could show Him to them, he replied - "I have seen God. But how can you see God if you don't pine for him in the same manner in which you pine for your wife and children and wealth? Pray to Him, yearn for Him and be prepared to sacrifice everything for Him. Then you will experience the vision of God." God cannot be perceived by the spiritually blind, just as a blind man cannot understand what is meant by the whiteness of milk. God is infinite bliss. He is formless, but He can assume any form He wills. How can anyone attempt to describe the nature of God? Contemplate on God with a pure heart. There is no greater spiritual exercise.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

What is the right question to ask ourselves, ponder, reflect and act on, to live in bliss?

 The question must be asked, of everyone who is caring for the body - "For what purpose are you caring for this body? What is it that you hope to achieve?" The body is the sheath, the scabbard for the sword, the Jivi (soul), the I that is within it, but not of it. The purpose of this scabbard is to discover the unity of the Universe. When you say this is the auditorium shed, you see this shed as one, though it is really the coming together of many pillars, trusses, sheets, bricks, mortar, nuts, bolts and paint! You feel you are one though you are an organisation of many limbs and instruments of knowledge, hands, feet, head, muscle, nerve, eye, tongue, teeth, etc. So also, the Universe is but one, though you may be able to distinguish stars and planets, rock, tree and bird and birch, ant and antler in it. Whatever there is, Sarvam Brahmamayam - all is Brahman. It is all Sat Chit Ananda, no more, no less. The realisation of this great Truth is the only purpose of man.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

What is the unfortunate plight of the modern world and how can it be fixed?

 A curious paradox is now gaining force in this land: it is fraught with dire consequences. Though the world has become a very small globe, as a result of fast means of communication and transport, man has not yet learnt the art of living together in close proximity, as brothers, as children of the One God. The closer men are brought, the larger the differences appear! Thus, the little world is now riddled with problems of conflicting cultures, competing creeds and contesting ambitions. The sorrows of one state spread fast into all its neighbours and infect the whole world. The world has become one vast battlefield. When infectious diseases leap over boundaries, and slay men without distinction, immediate steps are taken to control the havoc and relief is despatched in haste to the scene of disaster. But, the infection of greed and hate cannot be held in check so quickly by any Government. Let us try to answer the question - "What kind of Government is the best?" The answer is: "That Government is best, which helps us to govern ourselves." Make your Conscience the ruler, do not depend on the external ruler.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

What is true love and how is it different from what we normally practice

 Selfish Love (Svartha-Prema) is like a lamp kept in a room. The lamp illumines only the room. This selfish love is confined to limited people and doesn’t extend to others. Samanjasa-Prema is like light from the moon. This moonlight is visible both outside and inside. The light is dim and not very effulgent. This kind of love extends to a wider group but is not very intense. Third is Parartha-Prema. It is like sunlight. It illumines both inside and outside with brilliance. But it’s not continuous such that the sun is not visible at night. But it is also not a permanent absence, because the sun rises again. Likewise, this selfless love may appear to be absent sometimes, but will appear again! The fourth one is Yatartha-Prema or Atma-Prema. This love is present always, inside and outside, in all places and at all times, in all circumstances. This is Divine Love. It is imperishable. It is eternal. It is immanent in everyone. When this love is manifested by a person, he achieves the peace that passeth understanding.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

What is the best way to preserve the divine message of our beloved Master?

 Once a preceptor summoned all his disciples and told them that he was going to give them something extremely sweet which they should protect from insects and rodents. The disciples resorted to various devices to safeguard the guru's gift. However, one of them ate the sweet, digested it and derived considerable strength and energy from it. What is the lesson to be drawn from this story? It means that the teachings learnt from the preceptor are not to be merely preserved in safety. The nectarous message of the preceptor should be enshrined in the heart. It should be made part of one's being. Then the recipient acquires vigour and strength. In the same manner, whatever you see or hear or read should be taken to heart and then put into practice. Only then will you have the full satisfaction of benefiting from the teachings. Hearing is not enough. You must take in and digest what you have listened to. It must be put into practice in daily life.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

What is the real fast we must all undertake?

 Many of you misunderstand upavasa to mean 'fasting' and I know, you overdo it. You fast on Monday to please Shiva, on Tuesday to please Lakshmi, on Wednesday to propitiate some other God, on Thursday in My name, on Friday for Gowri and Saturday, for fear of Shani and on Sunday, to get the favour of the Sun. Now, this fasting will not bring you nearer to the Grace of God. Upavasa means that all your thoughts and deeds and words on those holy days must be about God, that you should spend the day 'near' Him, 'in' Him, 'for' Him. It means that eating, sleeping and other bodily avocations must take a secondary role, and meditation must take the main role. If your body wastes away as a result of fasts, God will be blamed; so, you are only drawing the calumny of people on the God you adore. They will come to you and say, ‘What! Before you started this Sai Baba worship you were looking much better; now, you become so thin and frail; you can scarcely move!’ And they continue talking against Me in the same strain. Do not overdo anything; be moderate and wise.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

What is the nature of pure love and what must we do to cultivate it?

Narada declared: "Love is beyond the scope of words." How can an ordinary man, living in this phenomenal world, understand such love? This love is an expression of Divinity. Like the mariner's compass, it always points to the Divine wherever it may be present. As oil makes a lamp burn, love illumines life itself. What is termed love in ordinary worldly life is not real love at all. It is only one or the other form of attachment based on human relationships in the family or in society. True love is pure, selfless, free from pride, and full of bliss. Such love can be got only through love. All worldly attachments are not real love at all. They are transient. The everlasting, pure love arises from the heart. In fact, it is ever-existing and all-pervading. How is it that man is unable to recognise such all-pervading love? It is because man's heart today has become barren and polluted. The heart is filled with all kinds of desires and there is no room in it for pure, unsullied love to enter. It is only when the worldly attachments are expelled from the heart that there will be room for real love to abide in it and grow.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri sathya Sai Baba