Life 48 (Feb 25 - Dec 26)

[winston]

What is the significance of an Avatar and what must we do to make the best of this opportunity?

Have love and ananda (Divine bliss) in your heart.

Ananda comes from pure sight, pure hearing, pure speech and pure actions. The day you establish yourselves in this ananda, that day will be His Birthday for you.

The Avatar (Divine Incarnation) is the Atma-shakti (power of the Supreme Soul) that has put on the raiment of kriya-shakti and yoga-shakti (power of action and power of Divine communion).

Generally, Avataraṇa (the process of incarnation) is described as a ‘coming down’ from a higher status to a lower one.

But, no! When the baby in the cradle weeps, wails and clamors for help, the mother stoops and takes it up in her arms.

Her stoop is not to be described as a ‘coming down’.

If you earn the necessary credentials, the Incarnation will come and save you. If, on the other hand, you multiply your demerits and descend lower and lower, how can you be saved?

- Divine Discourse, Nov 23, 1978

Become aware of the Unity of mankind; promote by love and service the joy and contentment of everyone on earth and fill your hearts with that yearning.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is it that we must achieve through Sadhana (spiritual practice)?

You must dedicate yourself to sadhana - continuous and conscious sadhana (spiritual practice).

The symbol on the Flag has to be clearly understood by everyone. Conquer lust, anger, hatred and roam, in the expanse of equal and impartial love to all created things, and then, you are fit for yoga (inner communion with Divinity), which will open the petals of your heart.

Then, from the fragrance and beauty of that lotus, will emerge the flame of jnana (spiritual wisdom), dispelling maya (world illusion) until you and the jyoti (flame) become one.

It is when you approach the flame, that it appears in all its majesty, in all its overwhelming size.

Suppose you see it small, what does that indicate? Not that it is small but that you are far away!

Remember, the Sun and the Moon appear huge and bigger than the stars, for they are near and the stars are far.

Approach the Divine and realise Him as big; do not stand afar and prate that He is small!

- Divine Discourse, Nov 23, 1961

The purity of heart and mastery over the senses - if you have these two credentials, grace is your right.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

How does love become a powerful means to attain bliss?

The heart is the spring of joy. That spring has to be touched by constant meditation, recitation and the intermittent dwelling on the glory, the grace and the inexhaustible manifestations of the Divine: Smarana, chintana, and manana.

Hold fast to the goal; the bhakta (devotee) should never turn back. Never give way to doubt or despair.

A person driving a car concentrates on the road, for he is anxious to save himself and others from an accident.

Fear is what induces single-mindedness in his case. Love is a greater force for giving concentration.

If you have steady and resolute love, the concentration becomes intense and unshakeable.

Faith develops into love and love results in concentration. Prayer is possible and begins to yield fruit under such conditions.

Pray, using the name as a symbol of the Divine; pray, keeping all the waves of the mind stilled.

Pray, as the performance of a duty for your very real existence, as the only justification for your coming into the world as man.

- Divine Discourse, Nov 23, 1961

We can get eternal bliss by developing a permanent relationship with Him, who is eternal and changeless, not with worldly relations.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why do we suffer and what can we do to change it?

Wealth may come and go. Strength may grow or decay. All things in the world may pass away. But one thing is imperishable and unchanging. That is permanent Divine Love.

All other forms of love are not real love at all. They are temporary, worldly attachments, based on physical, communal or other desires.

True love is related solely to the hridaya (heart).

Man today is not cherishing such unchanging and enduring love. He is wasting his life, pursuing temporary allurements.

Wandering aimlessly in the pursuit of evanescent and trivial pleasures, man is immersed in all kinds of troubles.

He can discover his true path only by seeking spiritual illumination. Spirituality does not mean performance of ritual worship. It calls for the removal of the animal traits in man. Only then sacred feelings will arise in him. That is real spirituality.

Regard all beings as children of the Divine. Bear no ill will towards anyone. Only because of hatred and ill-will, that mankind is plunged into violence and bloodshed.

- Divine Discourse, Nov 23, 1993

One should give one’s love freely to others and receive love in return. This is the deep significance of human life.

Source: radiosai.org