Thought for the Day

1.The Atma (Divine Self) has no entry or exit, no form or imperfection. It is subtler than the subtlest, greater than the greatest. Like space, it is all pervasive - and being ‘everything’ it is free from the feelings, ‘I and mine’. Just as fire is heat, Atma is consciousness. As it is beyond distress or delusion, it is Paramananda – supreme, everlasting ecstasy. The Buddhi (intellect), like the moon, has no light in itself; it only reflects the brilliance of the Atma which is like the sun. The Sun by its very presence dispels darkness and so is called the Enlightener; but it is neither doing this consciously nor is it duty bound. The Atma too, has no obligation, or duty. If asked how the Atma becomes a ‘doer’, the reply is: ‘Is the magnet acting, simply because the needle nearb y moves? The Atma therefore is the core of all beings; the awareness in all.

2.The world is a nest of crows; some caw in praise, others in derision. But you should be above the reach of both. Make light of praise and treat it as something unworthy of your attention, only then can you enjoy real happiness and be free. Even Avatars like Rama, Krishna and Baba have not escaped blame; will normal men be spared? People are fond of themselves, their own religions, customs and homelands. This affection makes one criticise other’s faiths and beliefs. Though related to religion and ones' relationship to God, such impulses are impure. Recognize this fact and remove these tendencies by repetition of God's name and meditation, that fill the heart with the universal wisdom of the Atma. These tendencies will be transformed and transmuted into sacred impulses, and will eventually vanish.

3.At first, the child is led into the world of knowledge when he is accepted by a Guru, whom he has to serve and obey without feeling burdened. Later, the young person should share with society the means and measures for its progress and security. In this stage one should start earning his income and learn to spend it wisely. The youth has to, by example, guide younger ones in the right direction and at the same time learn from elders, lessons for ones' own progress. He must do good deeds simply for the elation they confer. Understand that practice advances wisdom, just as reading enhances knowledge. The young person must cultivate humility, reverence, devotion to God and steadfast faith. Along with earning money and serving society, attention has to be paid to virtues and morality through righteous behaviour and sadhana (spiritual practices). One’s whol e being must be purified and then directed along the path of sacred work.

4.When in adulthood, one must foster not only one’s family, but also the progress of people in general. Besides this, during middle age, one must also live an exemplary life, inspiring one’s children and holding forth elevating ideals. Acts that benefit one's family at the cost of the society should be avoided; for, a selfish attitude is bound to lead one to failure. The Divine Principle can be realised only by purifying one’s activities and serving the Self in all. One must have a wide vision of the peace and prosperity of all humanity, and try to contribute to both. Old age is the final stage of life. By the time this stage arrives, one must have discovered that worldly pleasures are trivial and be equipped with spiritual joy, gained through delving into the inner spring of bliss. One must also be eager to share with others the accumulated knowledge and wisdom. Through the experience of life, one’s heart, by this time must be soft, and one should promote the progress of one and all without any distinction.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.Enormous quantities of water are evaporated from the surface of the Earth by the Sun. This then transforms into clouds, and finally return to the Earth as rain. The wonder is that, in spite of this tremendous vaporisation, the level of the ocean does not go down even by an inch. Furthermore, even though thousands of rivers pour their waters into the seas, the level of the ocean does not increase. Similarly, people who have practised the wisdom of the scriptures are never affected by praise or blame, whatever the source and quantity. Their hearts remain pure and calm.

2.Attachment makes the mind dwell on the things of the world. When the mind is free of attachment, it remains unaffected by the objective world. The mind is like a cloth and there are three different impulses which colour it: sathwic, pure impulses which make it white; rajasic, restless tendencies that turn it red, while thamasic, slothful impulses that give it a black colour. Some people find these impulses extremely difficult to control even after many years of practice. If you are disturbed by such inclinations, you must fortify yourself with faith and act to conquer them by will power. Meditation and concentration can help you overcome these impulses.

3.While the liberated soul overcomes the impulses, an ordinary person cultivates them. One can use pure impulses to remove impure ones, but in due course one must discard them too; just as the thorn that is used to remove a thorn is also thrown away. If you wish to attain Self Realisation, it is not enough if you control the impulses; you must uproot them completely. Just like negative ones, good impulses too lead to bondage. This means that, even the purest desire - craving for liberation, has to be cast away eventually. One should attain the stage where neither good nor bad, attracts or repels; for a shackle is a shackle, be it of iron or gold. So if you wish to realise God, you should uproot your impulses, curb the mind, and strive to understand the fundamental Divine Principle.

4.The body is the most wonderful workshop in the entire world, because it is the temple of the Lord. In this ‘spiritual factory’, impulses ought to be sublimated, impurities have to be weeded out and good tendencies nurtured. The uprooting of impulses is the goal here, though this is a very difficult task. While intoxicants enslave you only temporarily, impulses can overpower you for a whole lifetime! But they can be overcome with will-power, faith and determination. Do not give up, whatever the hardship you might face in this struggle. The very purpose of meditation is to attain freedom from these mighty and manifold impulses.
Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.From the tree of the mind comes the seed of impulses (vasanas). These impulses in turn make the mind. To free the mind from the influence of the impulses one has to get rid of ignorance (ajnana). But ignorance does not exist alone; it has a fiendish offspring - the ego (ahamkara). And the ego in turn has two children - attachment and craving; both of these are closely interrelated. Attachment gives rise to feelings of ‘my’ and ‘mine’ which cause desires (or cravings); this leads to worries. Therefore to remove ego, attachment and desires have to be annihilated. And the way to achieve this is through meditation and other spiritual practices. When this is done liberation can be attained.

2.One can imbibe spiritual lessons only to the extent of one’s patience and intelligence. The ancient texts of India insist on the value of actual practice; they reiterate the importance of confirming the truths learnt from the scriptures by experiencing their impact personally. After mastering the texts and gaining experience by putting into practice the lessons learnt, you not only receive bliss and grace, but can also share the wisdom and the joy with others.

3.Remember, the one who is a slave to impulses and tendencies (vasanas) is devoid of Jnana (wisdom). In truth, such a person is a weakling. The impulses invade the heart, causing endless trouble. They remind you of the pleasures of past experiences and make you crave for them again. The desires that arise thus, make the senses and their leader, the mind, restless; having no choice, you then pursue these cravings. The impulses operate so subtly and powerfully, that all this happens in the twinkling of an eye. Just as the seed contains within itself the trunk, branches, twigs, leaves, flowers and fruits, so too, all these effects lie dormant in the vasanas. But let Me assure you - there is no cause for despair! You can regain your divine nature, that was lost by neglect, as soon as you uproot your impulses.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba