Thought for the day

1.Karma (action), really speaking, is the practice of Dharma (right conduct). The Upanishads (scriptures) give us guidance on what has to be done and what should be avoided on the spiritual journey. 'Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah': Dharma protects those who protect it, say the scriptures. If people come forward to foster the sources of Dharma, that good act, by itself, will help foster those who practice it. The scriptures direct us to revere the mother, father, preceptor and guest as God and also, warn us that Truth and Right Conduct should never be neglected. So, they offer clear dos and don’ts. Whatever is conducive to your progress in goodness, accept it; avoid other counsels—thus instruct the scriptures.
2.Lord Buddha's emphasis was entirely on purity in every aspect of daily life. He advocated purity in vision, thought, speech and action. He considered the spirit of sacrifice as the true Yajna (sacred offering). Sacrifice is the means for attaining Nirvana, freedom from the bondage of mundane existence. Buddha was totally opposed to anyone being forced to lead a worldly life against his will. The Buddhist prayer must be properly understood. When the Buddhists say: "Buddham sharanam gachchaami, Dharmam sharanam gachchaami, Sangham sharanam gachchaami," the real meaning of the prayer is: One must divert one’s Buddhi (intellect) towards Dharma (right conduct); and right conduct should be aimed at serving the community. When this is done, society gets purified.
3.The sacred texts direct the behaviour of people towards the right code of conduct for the various stages and positions of life. They are respected by followers of all religions. Everyone should consider the social codes and guidelines given by the prophets and seers as valuable and binding. We must continue to revere them as regulations set up for the good of society and the progress of humanity. For, we must admit that they were framed by Mahapurushas (outstanding sages and well-wishers of mankind).
4.All living beings are actors on this stage. They make their exit when the curtain is rung down or when their part is over. On that stage, one may play the part of a thief, another may be cast as a king, a third may be a clown, and another a beggar. For all these characters in the play, there is only One who gives the cue! The prompter will not come upon the stage and give the cue in full view of all. If He does so, the drama will not interest anybody. Therefore, standing behind a screen at the back of the stage, He gives the cue to all the actors, regardless of their role — be it dialogue, speech, or song — just when each is in most need of help. In the same way, the Lord is behind the screen on the stage of Prakriti (Creation), giving the cue to all the actors for their various parts.
5.The Lord and His Name are both one, but the sweetness of the Name is seldom found in the Form. When the name ‘rose’ is remembered, its fragrance, tender petals, and deep colour spring to memory; its thorns and the trouble that one has undergone to get the flower are all forgotten. On the other hand, if its origin and previous story are considered, and if the plant, leaves, and branches are taken into account, the flower — the most important, most beautiful, and most attractive part — is likely to be forgotten and only the rest of the plant discussed. Therefore, crave for the Lord's Name rather than the Form.
Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the day

1.Education sans wisdom, wisdom bereft of discrimination, action without discretion, erudition lacking sagacity, power not justified by credentials, statements not based on truth, music wanting in melody, adoration not sustained by devotion, an individual devoid of common sense and character, a student not endowed with humility - these serve no useful purpose. In addition to knowledge derived from the sacred texts, one should earn wisdom through experience. Knowledge without personal experience is futile.

2.If you follow Truth right from this very day, you will certainly become an ideal to the entire country. What is Truth? God's word is Truth. Hence, when you speak and act with the feeling Sarva Karma Bhagavad Preetyartham (All actions are meant only to please God), everything will become Truth. Every thought and feeling emanating from you is a reflection of your inner truth. Unfortunately it gets converted into falsehood by the improper use of the tongue. The tongue is one of the five senses. The senses are the cause of changes in us; they are responsible for the sin or merit we earn. Himsa (violence) is not just limited to harming or hurting others; in fact acting contrary to one's words is also violence. Remember this always: There can be no greater practice of Non-violence than using our tongue in a sacred man ner.

3.The Divine is the only kith and kin of the Yogis (spiritually advanced souls); they know no other. They do not entertain any other urge, attachment, or desire. God is their all in all. They are not affected by grief or joy, failure or success; they experience only one unbroken and unchallenged stream of bliss. For those firmly established in this state, the world and its ups and downs appear trivial and illusory; they counter the pulls of the senses and face the fascinations of the world without any agitation of their minds. They are also vigilant against the temptations held before them by the senses, and turning them aside, they approach the Divine and seek strength and solace from Him. Their actions, thoughts, and words reveal the vision they have experienced; this is the Paramartha Drishti, the Supra Vision, where all the five elements are present as the Divine itself and all beings - ma n, beast, bird, and worm are emanations from God and therefore fully Divine.

4.Everything in this world is ephemeral and transitory; it is here today but may not be here tomorrow. So, if you want to crave something wholeheartedly, seek the Lord, who has no decline. In this transitory life, joy and pain are also perforce temporary. The self-same Lord gives and takes as and when He wishes. Everything is His, so how foolish it is to lament when things belonging to Him are taken back by Him! Therefore, the wise person doesn’t pine over anyone or feel undue attachment to anything. Let all the pining and all the attachment be for the Lord; He alone is eternal, the source of all joy. Love a person as a person, not more. If you love them more, it is a sign that you have been deceived about their real nature. You can behave only for a short time as if the house you have rented is your own! For, as soon as the lease period is over, it passes on to another.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Cultivate the atmoshphere of love and co-operation and you can ensure joy forever more

1.Cultivate the atmosphere of love and cooperation, and you can ensure joy forever more. Seek ways of working together for the common good. Ahamkaram and Mamakaram - the sense of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ - these prevent love and cooperation. Reduce them to the minimum and then start serving the needy and the distressed. Service is best built on the strong foundation of Tat Tvam Asi (That thou art). There is no other, there is only One. Many kites fly high, but the same air keeps all of them aloft. The pots of water in which the Sun is reflected may be many, but the Sun remains unaffected even when the pots break or the water is dried up. Understand that all help you render is therefore help given to yourself; all service is to the Self alone.

2.Revere your mother and Motherland. This is the teaching that our scriptures have been propagating since ages. The Vedas declare: “Maathru devo bhava” - revere your mother as God. This applies even to your country of birth, your motherland. Revere your country and follow its culture. Revere your mother, who has brought you up with love, care and sacrifice. However famous one may be, if one does not revere one’s mother, one does not deserve any respect. A person whose heart is so hard that it does not melt at the pleadings of the mother deserves nothing but ridicule.

3.Dharma is universal. There is a test that may be applied to any action to determine if it is according to Dharma. Let not your deeds harm or injure another. This flows from the recognition that the divine spark is the same in every form, and if you injure another you are injuring the same divinity that is in yourself. Dharma enables you to realise that anything that is bad for another is also bad for you. The test of Dharmic action is stated very clearly in the saying: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

4.Godhead expressed itself initially as the five elements: ether, air, fire, water and earth. All creation is but a combination of two or more of these in varying proportions. The characteristic natures of these five elements are: sound, touch, form, taste and smell, cognized by the ears, the skin, the eyes, the tongue and the nose. Now, since these are saturated with the divine, one has to use them reverentially, with humility and gratitude. Use them intelligently to promote the welfare of others and yourself; use them with moderation and in loving service of society.

5.The recognition of one's innate Divinity and the regulation of one's daily life in accordance with that Truth are the guiding stars for those caught in the currents and cross currents of strife and struggle. Without that Atma Jnana (spiritual awareness), life becomes a meaningless farce, a mockery. It is the acquisition of that awareness that makes life earnest, sweet and fruitful.

6.It is pure love that bestows liberation. You should endeavour to attain this holistic love. To attain liberation, people undertake all sorts of spiritual practices, but love is the undercurrent of all spiritual endeavours. Bhakthi (devotion) is a spiritual practice based on love. Devotion is not merely singing bhajans or performing sacred rituals. True devotion is the direct flow of selfless and unconditional love from your heart to God. In the spiritual practices that people undertake, there is some amount of selfishness. Offer your love to God devoid of the least trace of selfishness or desire. The annihilation of desire is verily liberation.

7.Dwell always on noble thoughts. When air fills a balloon, it takes the form of the balloon. The mind assumes the form of the objects with which it is attached. If it gets fixed on petty things, it becomes petty; similarly, thinking about grand things, it becomes grand. The camera takes a picture of whatever it is pointed at; so take care before you click. Discriminate before you develop attachment. When you develop attachment towards family, wealth, properties, etc., you will come to grief when these decline. But if you develop attachment towards God, you will grow in love and splendour.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba