The mind must become the servant of intellect, not the slave of the senses

1.Krishna fostered what was really beneficial to Arjuna; He paid full consideration to what will really promote the reputation, the Atma-ananda (bliss) and the Dharma (Right Conduct) of Arjuna. He tended and fended Arjuna as the very breath of His own life; He watched over Arjuna as one watches over the eye or the heart, and thus transformed him by teaching him about holy things. Krishna loved Arjuna beyond compare; that is the nature of a genuine Guru. Arjuna too was no ordinary being; he bowed in humility to Krishna and carried out sincerely the assignments from Him. Whatever the crisis, he stuck to Krishna's command and word; he wore the comradeship with the Lord as the armour that will save him from all harm, as the very body in which he dwelt, as something which he must foster, strengthen and guard. This is how Guru and Sishya (disciple) should be bound together.

2.The mind must become the servant of the intellect, not the slave of the senses. It must discriminate and detach itself from the body. Like the ripe tamarind fruit, which becomes loose inside the shell, it must be unattached to this shell or casement which is the body. Strike a green tamarind fruit with a stone and you cause harm to the pulp inside. But do this to a ripe fruit and what happens? It is the dry rind that falls off, nothing affects the pulp or the seed. The ripe aspirant does not feel the blow of fate or fortune. It is the unripe man, who is wounded by every blow. So too, your ignorance must fall off through your own efforts. It will not come to you as a gift or miracle. Truth, Bliss and Peace that is won by your own struggle with untruth and injustice will be the lasting treasure for you.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1. The frog caught and held in the mouth of a cobra, unaware of its fate, flicks at the snake’s tongue as if it were a fly to eat. So too, you seek joy and earn pain, hunt for pleasure and bag grief. You attach yourself to the body that decays, and let go of God. Thousands of wise men have advised about this a million times. However their words have not fallen on the soft soil of the heart and have not been watered by the tears of contrition. From now on, let your heart with clean consciousness, be a lamp. Pour into it the oil of Namasmarana (chanting of the Divine Name). Place the wick of Self-Control and keep it in position, so that the gusts of joy and grief do not scotch the flame. Light it with noble thoughts likeAham Brahmasmi (I am God). Then, you will not only have Light, but also become a source of Light.

2.Give up the idea that you are the doer and the beneficiary by dedicating both deed and fruit to God. Then no sin can affect you, for you are not the doer and the deed must certainly be holy. Like oil on the tongue and a lotus leaf on water, the deed is with you, but not of you. Always remember this: you are not the doer; you are just the witness, the see-er! Hence, in whatever you do or hear or see, you must remain unaffected, innocent of listening or seeing. Thus, you can confidently take up all tasks and firmly give up the fruit of your activities, dedicating them to the Lord.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.All the joy you crave for is within you. You suffer like someone who has vast riches in the iron chest, but has no idea where the key is! The flames of anger, pride, hatred, envy, etc. are more devastating than normal fire. They arise in the mind stealthily and in spurts ever demanding more and more to feed upon. Fire is called as ‘anala’ meaning ‘Not Enough’. You dread fire when it leaps at a distance. What is to be said then of the fire that is inside your very self? How to douse these dangerous flames? There are proven extinguishers tested by experience and guaranteed by sages, and these are - Truth, Right Conduct, Peace and Love (Sathya, Dharma, Shanthi and Prema). Examine within you which qualities and habits you must discard and the ones you must retain. Only those tendencies and attitudes that remind you of the Divine into which you must merge, should be retained and developed.

2.You must endeavour to please the Guru and win his favour by obeying his teachings and serving him lovingly. No matter where they live, those lives that are untouched by spiritual practices, noble qualities and serene environment imply that they do not even possess elementary gratitude to the Guru. They may chant slogans like Krishnarpanam (dedicating it to God) but their acts reveal only deha-arpanam (dedication to the body)! Modify your conduct to win your Guru’s grace; then, wisdom and bliss is yours. Instead, if you are disobedient and critical through egoism and want of faith, you cannot be blessed by the vision of the Truth. As the cow takes to her calf, so the Guru will draw the Sishya (disciple) to himself and grant him the milk of grace and bliss. The sishya (disciple) ought to be of sterling character; then , just as a clean piece of iron gets attracted by the magnet, he will automatically receive the blessings of the Guru.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba