Thought for the Day

1.Imitation is a sign of cowardice, not a quality that can ensure progress. How can you draw inspiration for uplifting yourself, if you are engaged in hating yourself and devaluing your achievements? You should feel no sense of shame when you bring back to memory your forefathers and the teachers of the past who built the culture that nurtured you. Instead, you ought to feel proud of them. Like them, manifest the power that lies in self-exertion! Do not resort to the weak stratagem of imitating others. Instead absorb the good qualities that others may possess. We plant a seed in the soil. Then we supply it with the ingredients it needs—water, air, and manure. The seed sprouts. It grows into a sapling. It becomes at last a huge tree. You will notice that it does not become either soil or manure, or air or water. These it makes use of, but sticks to its own nature and grows into a tree. May you too live like that!

2.How do you accumulate the wealth of character? You cannot exist without activity, so you must, out of necessity, act through good qualities. You must curb all desires and become free. The mind filled with good qualities will help you in this process, for it will bear other’s prosperity gladly. It will give up doing injury; it will seek opportunities to help, heal, and foster. It will not only suffer; it will also pardon. It will not incline towards the false; it will be on the alert to speak the truth. It will remain unruffled by lust, greed, anger, and conceit; it will be free from delusion. It will always seek the welfare of the world. From such a mind, will flow an uninterrupted stream of love.

3.We have much to learn from others. There is no need about doubt this fact. Those who refuse to learn this, declare themselves fools. You can imbibe from others anything that can promote your spiritual advancement in line with your own moral path or dharma. You must live as you, not as someone else. Be immersed in your God, in your own beliefs and feelings, in the bliss that springs from your own heart, and in the delight derived from your sadhana (spiritual practices). If others try to prevent you from doing this by weaving different plans or employing several contrivances, resist them boldly. Do not deny yourself the Divine Awareness and the Divine Ecstasy. Pull down the barriers that stand in the way and obstruct the free flow of divinity, sweetness and strength from the depth of your heart.

4.When your mind matures and attains fruition, it easily becomes free of all qualities. It becomes placid, calm, and pure. It effortlessly merges in the one and only Atma. Each person has the unique chance to taste the inner peace that such a mind can grant, but, unfortunately, most are strangers to the unshakeable joy and equanimity that is their birthright. Meditation is the only island of refuge in the ocean of life for all beings tossed on the waves of desire, doubt, dread, and despair. This Vedantic truth must be present in the mind, even while one is engaged in the mundane material world!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.The spiritual aspirant must always yearn for good company (satsang), where there is no chance for growth of greed or ambition. Even if it is hard to come by, you should only mix with good people. It is profitless for a true aspirant to associate with people who spend their time in worldly affairs. If you don’t secure good friends, spend your time alone; thereby you do not lose anything. Never even think of joining the company of the bad or being in their presence. Do not get entangled in their wiles. If you cultivate good qualities and seek good company, then both, repetition of the Divine Name and meditation will become easy for you and will yield quick results.

2.Space is one. But it is held in diverse containers like the home, the pot, the building and the canvas. There is no truth in this divided existence; it is the one space that exists in all these ‘receptacles’ which are varied shapes and forms, with distinct names attached to them, and different modes of behaviour and use. So too, individual beings (jivas) have different names and forms, peculiarities, specialties and behaviours. But like the string that holds the beads, passing in and through each one, the Super Consciousness in all individuals is ONE. That is the Self, Atma, which is mistaken as the ego through ignorance. Only when this truth is acquired, can man release himself from the hold of this transient world.

3.Those who never speak of the Lord, or those who are not even aware of Him, or those who are busy multiplying and strengthening the bonds of worldly existence (samsara) or who preach and practice falsehood, injustice, and oppression, and who advise you to stray from the path of dharma (righteousness) - treat those not as your friends but as people to be avoided at all costs. Associating with such bad company (dussanga) leads to committing wrongs against your will, uttering words that should not be uttered, doing deeds that ought not be done and consequently, treading the path to ruin. People who fear neither sin nor God are capable of venturing into any wickedness; so, seek the company of those who fear God and fear sin; that alone is true good company.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.The word karma (action) is short and crisp. But the idea and ideals it conveys are of great significance to mankind. It is of two kinds: material and spiritual, that is, loukik (connected with this world) and vaidik (drawn from the Vedas or scriptural injunctions). Karma that merely sustains life is material. The vaidik actions elevate the human to the Divine and are based on the scriptures. Karma is not simply physical, it is also mental and verbal; it subsumes every activity of man—worldly, scriptural and spiritual. All the three strands are truly intertwined. Worldly actions entail merit or demerit. Scripturally based actions are saturated with the experience of generations of seekers of goodness. The spiritually-focused will devote themselves to cleansing their hearts so that the indwelling God may be reflected therein.

2.Its animal nature to get attracted to the exterior; the Lord is pleased only by internal charm that arises from good character. Do not be driven by the low tastes of the world and the cheap regard that people bestow. Strive for the grace and love of the Lord. The affection that people shower is not constant, for it depends on their likes and dislikes. But the love that the Lord bears for you depends on your good qualities alone; it gives you permanent joy. True beauty lies in character, not in anything else. There is nothing more charming than this.

3.The lives of individuals are determined by the actions performed by them in previous lives and the present one. The entire load of accumulated karma that is slowly being worked out over many life times by the individual is called sanchitha karma. That karma which directly influences the current life is called praarabdha karma. The actions being performed, which is bound to affect the future is called aagaami karma. While the actions one is engaging in is referred to as karma, being inactive is called akarma! If you are not attached to the fruits of your actions, but carry it out as your duty and as your way of worship; then you can practice akarma even though physically engaged in Karma. This is the highest sadhana.

4.The good should never even discuss the evil that others do, for that will contaminate them. The stories of child devotees like Dhruva and Prahlada will, if listened to, grant merit and show the path; and the stories of great women like Savithri and Anasuya will destroy the roots of evil and strengthen character. How will this happen? They are all holy and their lives are without a blemish; therefore to discuss them and their lives is worthwhile and beneficial. Always discuss the good in others and never about their faults. If you can, try constantly to offer them good advice and turn them to noble ways. You should cultivate peace of mind, charitableness and eagerness to promote the welfare of all. These can come only through repetition of the Divine Name and meditation.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba