Thought for the Day

Really speaking, this world has to serve only the purpose of sustaining the body. Those aspiring for liberation have to subdue the senses. “Food for guarding the body, dress to ward off the cold,” states the Uttara Gita (the Gita Krishna imparts to Arjuna after the Kurukshetra war). However, if one gets immersed in these pursuits, one forgets the purpose for which one has come and the goal of all activity and holy endeavour. Instead whatever activity a person may be engaged in, the person must, as automatically as breathing, be contemplating on and always aware of this: “I am born to serve God and to realize my true self.” All acts — wearing, eating, walking, studying, serving, moving — should be performed in the belief that they take one into the Presence of the Lord. Every act must be done in a spirit of dedication to the Lord.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

You must seek Truth and test it thoroughly with all the canons of reasoning. The discipline consists of: 1) The heroism to observe dharma rigorously (Ojas). 2) Fearless self-control (Tejas). 3) Discarding of all feelings of joy or sorrow with equanimity, due to the peaks and troughs of life. 4) Having unshakable faith in dharma and truth(Sahana). 5) Mental and physical health of the most excellent kind, earned by discipline and celibacy (bala).6) The desire and ability to speak sweetly and straight, won by the practice of truth and love. 7) Withdrawal of the five senses of wisdom (Jnanendriyas) and the five senses of action (karmendriyas) from vice and sin, and the sublimation of all the senses to serve truth (indriya-moha). 8) Victory over Self resulting in acceptance by the world. 9) The destruction of one’s prejudices and the pursuit of truth at all times (dharma). It is essential that all humanity today acknowledges the glory of this universaldharma. You must earnestly pray, “May all this be conferred on me” as found in the 'Chamakam' hymn.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Continuous remembrance of the Lord’s Name (namasmarana) is the secret to liberation from bondage. - Baba

Even when you attain the state of living with God and merger in a divine form (sarupya-mukti), there is still a trace of differential feeling. Just because a devotee has a form like the Lord’s, one may not have the powers of creation, preservation, and destruction that the Lord has. Only when all trace of difference disappears and unity is attained, the highest stage is reached. This is real union (Sayujya). This comes of divine grace won by the essence of the spiritual practice of each; it cannot be claimed as the fruit of effort. The devotee wishes to serve the Lord as one pleases and to experience the joy of the form that one has attributed to the Lord. But the Lord, out of His grace, gives the devotee not only existence with the Lord, witnessing always the glory of the Lord, and being suffused with God-consciousness but also Sayujya - union with Him! The path of devotion results also in attainment of ultimate knowledge (Brahma-jnana). Even if the devotee does not crave it, the Lord Himself vouchsafes it to the devotee.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba