Thought for the Day

When rains pour on mountain peaks and water hurries down the sides, no river emerges therefrom! However, when waters flow in a single direction, then first a brook is formed, which later becomes a stream, possibly a torrent, and finally a flooded river. Now the rains reach the sea. So, water that runs in one direction reaches the sea but water that flows in four directions, soaks in and is lost. Mental tendencies (samskaras) are like this. Of what use are they if they merely come and go, one way to­day and another way tomorrow? Use your hands to perform good deeds. Chant the Lord’s name during the practice of one’s duty (swadharma). With hands busy in selfless service (seva), let your mind be engrossed in namasmarana. The holy stream of good inborn desires must flow full and steady along the fields of holy thoughts and finally abide in the great ocean of bliss at the moment of death. Worthy indeed is the one who attains this goal!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

All good deeds done in the past contribute to this triumph; no noble deed is unworthy, every little act counts.

Twenty hammer strokes might not succeed in breaking a stone, but the twenty-first stroke might break it. Does that mean that twenty blows were of no avail? No! Each contributed its share to the final success; the last result was the cumulative effect! So too, the mind is engaged in a struggle with the world, both internal and external. Needless to say, success might not always be your lot. You’ll certainly attain everlasting bliss by immersing in good works and saturating your mind with love for God. Infuse every moment of life with love. Then, evil tendencies will not hamper your path. If your mind always dwells with the Lord, you will be drawn towards good deeds. The objective of all spiritual practice is destruction of the mind, and some day, one good deed will succeed in destroying it, like the twenty-first blow! All good deeds done in the past contribute to this triumph; no noble deed is unworthy, every little act counts.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

The mind has to be turned towards the good

Life is eternally stalked by death. Yet, people don’t tolerate the very mention of the word “death”. It is deemed inauspicious to hear that word, though, however insufferable it is, every living thing is every moment proceeding nearer and nearer to it. Intent on a journey and having purchased a ticket for the same, when you enter a train, the train takes you willy-nilly to the destination, whether you sit quiet or lie down or read or meditate. So too, each living thing received a ticket to death at birth and has come on a journey; so whatever your struggles, safeguards and precautions, the place has to be reached some day. Anything else may be uncertain, but death is certain. It is impossible to change that law. People have taught the eye, ear and tongue the luxury of constant novelty. Now, the opposite tendencies have to be taught. The mind has to be turned towards the good; the activities of every minute have to be examined from that standpoint.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba