Thought for the Day

You must strive to diagnose your own character and discover the faults that are infesting it; do not try to analyse the character of others and seek to spot their defects. Life is a campaign against foes; it is a battle with obstacles, temptations, hardships and hesitations. These forces are within every individual and so the battle has to be incessant and perpetual. Like the virus that thrives in the bloodstream, the vices of lust, greed, hate, malice, pride and envy sap the energy and faith, and lead one to untimely fall. Ravana had great scholarship, wealth, power, authority, even the Grace of God – but the viruses of lust and pride lodged in his mind brought about his complete destruction. He could not dwell in peace and joy, even for a moment, after these viruses began their job. Remember, virtue is strength and vice is weakness.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

There are nations that have no peace even in the midst of plenty; they are obsessed by fear and anxiety on account of the very plenty they have earned for themselves. The only guarantor of peace for the individual and for society is spiritual progress and spiritual discipline. In India, as well as in other countries, there is to be seen a sad neglect of just these two objectives. Providing housing, clothing and food gives physical happiness (sukha); providing education in skills and imparting information about the world gives a means of livelihood. But the ancient adage says, "Na sukhat labhate sukham" - Real and lasting happiness cannot be won through physical happiness. Lasting happiness, happiness that will not be shaken or diminished or modified by good fortune or bad, can come only by the discipline of the mind and faith in a Higher Power that guides all the deeds and words and thoughts of man. The lamp of that spiritual awareness has to be lit and fed, so that the footsteps of man can take that path and proceed unharmed.

 Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Hatred and envy distort an individual’s true charm. Anger is the fuel for all varieties of sin. Just look at yourself in a mirror when you are attacked by anger, and you will discover that you are then akin to Shoorpanakha (the demon king Ravana’s sister) of ancient times. The Rajo guna that is overpowering you then is the rakshasa (demonic) trait you must learn to avoid. Those aspiring for success in the spiritual field must therefore decide to control anger and subdue the vagaries of the mind. They must put down their mental agitations and worries and see that they do not create worry in others too. They must convince themselves that in everyone there is Divinity (Shivam), recognisable as breath (swasam); develop Universal Love (Vishwaprema) and demonstrate it in your words and deeds. I bless you to win satyam, shanti and sukham (Truth, Peace and Happiness) through these means and merge in the source of all bliss.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba