Life 48 (Feb 25 - Dec 26)

[winston]

Why are the experiences one undergoes in worldly life important for a spiritual aspirant?

Bhakti and shraddha (devotion and faith) are the two oars, with which you can take the boat across the sea of worldly life (samsara).

A child told its mother, when it went to bed at night, "Mother! Wake me up, when I get hungry." The mother answered, "There is no need. Your hunger will itself wake you."

So too, when the hunger for Him comes, it will itself activate you and make you seek the food you need.

He has endowed you with hunger and He supplies the food; He has endowed you with illness and He grows the specifics you need.

Your duty is to see that you get the proper hunger and the right illness and use the appropriate food or drug!

Man must be yoked to samsara (worldly life) and broken; that is the training, which will teach that the world is unreal; no amount of lectures will make you believe it is a snake unless you actually experience it.

Touch fire and get the sensation of burning; there is nothing like it to teach you that fire is to be avoided. Unless you touch it, you will be aware only of its light.

It is light and heat both; just as this world is both true and false, that is to say, unreal.

- Divine Discourse, Mahashivaratri, 1955.

More than the knowledge that you can get from reading the scriptures, you should value the wisdom that you can get from experience.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why is it that we seem to lack peace of mind in spite of all the wealth and comforts we have earned for ourselves?

Once a wealthy man decided to go on a pilgrimage of sacred places. To escape the trouble of carrying too much luggage, he tied only very essential items in a bedroll and embarked on his journey.

As the saying goes, ‘less luggage, more comfort makes travel a pleasure’, he could conveniently see all the sacred places of pilgrimage.

During the day, he saw many temples, worshipped beautiful idols of various deities in them, took bath in sacred rivers and performed various acts of merit.

After spending the whole day thus, he became tired at night and lay down on his bed to sleep. But he did not get even a wink of sleep. Though he performed noble deeds at physical level, he did not attain mental peace.

What was the reason? The reason was that there were numerous bedbugs in the bed he brought with him. Due to the biting of these bedbugs, he could not get any sleep at night.

The same is the condition of man today. At physical level, he has amassed many comforts and conveniences and appears to be quite happy. But he harbours within himself the bedbugs of bad qualities, evil thoughts and wicked motives, which destroy his peace.

As long as he gives room to negative feelings and thoughts, he cannot attain peace.

- Divine Discourse, Jun 24, 1996.

Peace is not available in the world outside. Outside, there are only pieces! True peace is that which comes from within you.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the greatest obstacle on the path of surrender? How can we overcome it?

The greatest obstacle on the path of surrender is ahankara (egoism) and mamakara (mineness or possessiveness).

It is something that has been inherent in your personality since ages, sending its tentacles deeper and deeper with the experience of every succeeding life.

It can be removed only by the twin detergents of discrimination and renunciation.

Bhakti is the water to wash away this dirt of ages and the soap of japam, dhyanam, and yoga (repetition of Divine’s name, meditation, and communion) will help to remove it quicker and more effectively.

The slow and the steady will surely win this race; walking is the safest method of travel, though it may be condemned as slow. Quicker means of travel mean disaster; the quicker the means, greater the risk of disaster.

You should eat only as much as you feel hunger, for more will cause disorder. So, proceed step by step in Sadhana (spiritual effort), making sure of one step before you take another.

Do not slide back two paces, when you go one pace forward. But, even the first step will be unsteady, if you have no faith. So, cultivate faith.

- Divine Discourse, Aug 01, 1956.

When the Sun is over your head, there will be no shadow; similarly, when faith is steady in your head, it should not cast any shadow of doubt.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Is it really necessary to make any offerings to the Divine, who lacks nothing at all?

The Divine never asks anything from anyone. But when people give to Him with a full heart, He returns a thousand-fold.

Whenever He accepts anything from anyone, He grants unending bounty in return. That is why it is said that a leaf, a flower, a fruit or some water, at least these must be offered to Him. Why? Only when we offer, we become eligible to receive.

If you go to a bank and simply ask for your money, they will not give it to you although you have every right over it. You need to fill a withdrawal slip and sign it. Only then can you claim your money.

So, you must give something first, in order to receive. This is Divine Law. Even if it is tiny or insignificant, it must be offered to the Divine.

- Summer Showers, May 28, 1995.

The Divine offers Himself to His devotees in exactly the same manner in which devotees offer themselves to Him.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Which is the best place and time to contemplate on the Divine?

There are no limitations of time or space for the establishment of oneself in the contemplation of the Omnipresent Divine.

There is nothing like holy place or special time for this. Wherever the mind revels in contemplation of the Divine, that is the holy place!

Whenever it does so, that is the auspicious moment! Then and there, one must meditate on Him.

That is why it has been announced already before, ‘For meditation on Him, there is no fixed time or place. When and where the mind so desires, then and there is the time and place.

The world can achieve prosperity through disciplined souls whose hearts are pure and who represent the salt of the earth.

In an attempt to promote the welfare of the world, from this very minute, everyone should pray for the advent of such great souls, should try to deserve the blessings of the great, and should try to forget the sufferings of the day!

- Ch 73, Prema Vahini.

When His name is chanted without intermission, the fire of Divine wisdom manifests itself in the devotee.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

How can we perform our duties and elevate ourselves unto Him?

When you are driving a car, the car is Him. When you are doing business in market, the market is Him.

According to the culture of Bharat, we first make obeisance to the work we have to do. Before undertaking any work, we should regard that work as Divine.

The Scriptures teach us this: “The work I have to do, I regard as Divine and make obeisance to Him in that form”.

Let us see the person who plays on tabla. Before he begins to play on it, he pays obeisance to tabla.

The harmonium player will make obeisance to the harmonium before he starts.

A dancer, before she begins her dance, will make obeisance to her ghunghru (musical anklets).

Even a driver who is going to drive a lifeless car, before he holds the steering wheel, makes namaskaram (salutations) to the steering wheel!

You do not have to go so far. While driving, if the car hits another person, immediately we make namaskaram to that person.

The significance of all this is the faith and belief that He is present in all things. Thus, to regard the entire creation as the form of Divine and to perform your duty in that spirit is meditation.

- Divine Discourse, May 12, 1981.

Consider every work as His work. Then your work will be transformed into worship.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

How can one attain His grace?

You toiled hard, earned money and deposited it in a bank for safety and security.

No doubt that money belongs to you but the Bank Manager will not give it to you on your mere asking for it.

There are certain rules and regulations for the withdrawal of money from the bank. You can withdraw the money only when you sign the cheque and surrender it to the Bank Manager.

Likewise, you have deposited the 'money' of meritorious deeds with the Divine, the Divine Bank Manager.

Though He is the embodiment of sacrifice and the money belongs to you, there is a proper procedure to get it.

The Divine is the Manager of the Bank of Love. You have deposited your money in His bank. In order to withdraw money from this bank, you have to submit the cheque of sacrifice with the signature of love.

Anything may happen but your love for Him should not change. Only through such love can you follow the path of sacrifice and withdraw 'money' from the Divine Bank.

Here 'money' does not mean currency notes. It is the 'money' of grace, wisdom, and righteousness.

- Divine Discourse, May 07, 2001.

Knock, the doors of Grace will open. Open the door; the sun’s rays waiting outside will flow silently in and flood the room with light.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

As a true Sadhaka (spiritual aspirant), who should we not neglect, at any stage in our life?

Revere knowledge as you revere your father, adore love as you adore your mother, move fondly with dharma, as your own brother; confide in compassion as your dearest friend; have calmness as your better half; and treat fortitude, as your own beloved son.

These are your genuine kith and kin. Move with them, live with them, do not forsake or neglect them.

How can the ever-restless mind could be controlled. Living with these kinsmen is the best recipe.

That is the best atmosphere to ensure discipline and detachment needed for mind control. Mere prayer will not do.

You must swallow and digest the morsel that’s put into the mouth; repetition of the name of the dish is of no use!

Hearing discourses and nodding approval or clapping in appreciation are not enough. The mother feeds lovingly but the child must take it in with avidity and relish.

When this earthly mother has so much love, who can estimate the love of the Mother of all beings?

- Divine Discourse, Oct 9, 1964

Anxiety is removed by faith in Him, the faith that tells you that whatever happens is for the best and that His will be done.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why should we understand the nature and working of desires?

If by our conduct, we can deserve the grace and that desire & time are not going to trouble us very much.

Like fire covered by ash, like water covered by a precipitate, like the eye covered by a cataract, our wisdom lies dormant, covered by kama.

It is necessary for us to enquire into the source and nature of kama (desire). Till we are able to do so, we will not be able to distinguish between what is lasting and what is only temporary, what is right and what is wrong.

Desire increases our attachments and thereby weakens our memory and intelligence.

Once the intelligence becomes weak, we will become inhuman. Thus, desire has the capacity to ruin our life.

If we understand the nature of desire well, it will go away from us in one moment.

If we give a high place to it without understanding, then that will get the upper hand and will begin to dance on our heads.

- Summer Showers, Jun 09, 1973

As you develop your willpower and reduce your desires, your power of discrimination will also increase. That is why it is said - less luggage, more comfort.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why should we attach ourselves to the Divine and adore Him always?

The Divine is Mahashakti (supreme energy) and Jeeva (individual being) is Mayashakti (deluding power);

He is the genuine, the jiva is but the shadow, the appearance, the delusion.

Even the Avatar has to put on Mayashakti to come into your midst, like the policeman who is compelled to wear the dress of the thief, so that he can get entry into the gang of thieves to apprehend them and bring them to book!

The Divine cannot come down with His Mahashakti unimpaired; He has to come with diminished splendour and limited effulgence, so that He can become the object of Bhakti and dedicated service.

In this world, which is impermanent and ever-transforming, the immanent power of the Divine is the only permanent and fixed entity.

To realise the eternal and the true, one must attach oneself to that source and sustenance. There is no escape from this path.

It is the destiny of one and all, irrespective of age or scholarship, clime or caste, gender or status.

- Divine Discourse, Aug 01, 1956

Fill your thoughts with love and proceed on the path of sacrifice. Then you will never be affected by Maya (illusion).

Source: radiosai.org