Life 48 (Feb 25 - Dec 26)

[winston]

What are the stages that lead to Self-realisation, and what efforts are required?

Man is bound by action. Everyone has the responsibility to perform his duty. Therefore, man should put the body to proper use and perform righteous actions.
But man indulges in mundane pleasures and wastes his life.

Instead, he should realise the effulgent Divinity that is within him. This world is bound to decay; it is temporary and untrue. Therefore, man should develop devotion to the Divine who is eternal and true. This only can lead him to the path of Self-realisation.

The first requisite for Self-realisation is self-confidence. For all troubles in this world, the main reason is the absence of self-confidence. So, a man should have self-confidence first.

Self-confidence confers self-satisfaction, and self-satisfaction leads to self-sacrifice. It is only through self-sacrifice that man attains Self-realisation.

For this mansion of life, self-confidence is the foundation and self-satisfaction are the walls. On the walls only can we lay the roof of self-sacrifice. When there is a roof on the walls, we can live inside happily. That is Self-realisation.

These are steps to liberation: self-confidence, self-satisfaction, self-sacrifice and Self-realisation.

- Divine Discourse, Apr 14, 1993.

The cultivation of good qualities and virtuous conduct, is the path which leads towards Self-realisation.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the knowledge that we must strive to attain?

The Scriptures declares that he who knows himself, knows all.

You should make the right endeavour to know yourself. You can know yourself by developing inner vision rather than outward vision.

All sensory activities like sound, smell, touch and taste, are only external activities. We delude ourselves into thinking that these activities are real and ruin ourselves ultimately.

It is by harnessing the mind that we will be able to realise the Divinity within.

Mind is the cause for man’s life, sorrow, joy and liberation, as well. It is the mind that makes us oblivious to Divinity and lures us to the enchantments of ‘Jagat’ (world).

The very meaning of the word ‘Jagat’ signifies the transient nature of the world, for ‘Ja’ means going, and ‘Gat’ means coming.

While the world changes, man remains changeless. The very word ‘Nara’ (man) means the ‘one who is imperishable’ for, ‘Na’ means ‘not’ and ‘Ra’ means perishable.

It is the self in man which is imperishable, for man is the Self.

- Summer Showers, May 20, 1993

The man who does not realise his true nature is ensnared by the senses, though in reality he is the master of senses.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What can we learn from the act of breaking a coconut as an offering in a temple?

You go to a temple and break a coconut before the idol. Now, if you try to break the nut as it has fallen from the tree, will it break?

No; the fibrous cover has to be removed, and the shell exposed. The fibre protects the shell and prevents the blow from affecting the shell.

Moksha (liberation) results from the breaking of the mind with all its vagaries and wishes.

You have to break your mind, but how can you do it, when the fibrous armour of sensual desires encompasses it? Remove them and dedicate the mind to Him and smash it in His presence. That moment, you are free.

The toughest fibre is anger, it is the stickiest dirt. When you get angry, you forget your mother, father and teacher; you descend to the lowest depths. You lose all discrimination in the excitement;

- Divine Discourse, Oct 10, 1964

Anger is the main cause for man to lose his physical and mental powers. If one gets angry, one loses the energy obtained from the food partaken over a period of three months.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why are we unable to experience true peace and happiness, and what is the surest way to experience them?

Body is a combination of five elements and the mind is merely a bundle of thoughts.

One should neither be attached to the body nor follow the vagaries of the mind.

Drive away the evil qualities of kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada and matsarya (desire, anger, greed, infatuation, pride and jealousy) and manifest your inner peace and bliss.

Instead of developing peace and bliss, man is destroying them. He is giving scope to unrest even in trivial matters.

Neither ashanti (unrest) nor prashanti (supreme peace) are acquired from outside.

People say, “I want peace.” Where is peace? Is it present outside? If peace were to be found outside, people would have bought it by spending any amount of money.
But outside, we find only pieces!

The real peace is within! Whether you boil it hard or dilute it with water, milk remains white.

White symbolises purity. Like the consistency in milk, your heart should always remain pure, bright and peaceful in spite of trials and tribulations!

- Divine Discourse, Jan 14, 2005

We should subdue sorrow, keep the evil qualities of anger, hatred and jealousy under check and manifest our innate bliss!

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What should the objective of our prayers be?

Firm faith is essential for realising the Self. Faith is the basis of self-confidence, without which nothing can be achieved.

The word Manava (man) itself means one who has faith. When he acts up to his faith, he experiences peace and contentment.

Love is the means through which faith is strengthened.

People offer prayers to the Divine. Prayers should not mean petitioning Him for favours. The object of prayer should be to establish Him firmly in one's heart.

Aim at linking yourself to Him and not at seeking favours. Aspire for earning the love of the Divine. That is real penance.

That is why it is said: Looking ahead is Tapas (penance); looking backward is Tamas (ignorance).

Tapas does not mean giving up hearth and home and retiring to a forest. It means giving up all bad qualities and striving to live ceaselessly for His grace.

- Divine Discourse, Mar 06, 1989

Faith leads to truth; truth leads to peace; peace leads to happiness.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the true source of joy and what must we do, to lead a more joyous life?

You must also realise that the source of true joy is within yourself and not in the objects of the external world.

Man cannot derive joy, merely from things that are beautiful or from individuals who are beautiful.

Man derives joy from the objects he loves and not from other things.

It is love that lends beauty to the object. Hence, joy is equated with beauty and the sweetness of honey.

Anyone who seeks joy should not go after things of beauty. The fountain-source of joy is within himself.

To bring forth that joy, man should cultivate the inward vision.

- Divine Discourse, Jun 24, 1989.

The happiness that you derive from external sources is in reality a reflection of your inner feelings. You yourself are the source of bliss.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the ideal we all must live by to manifest our inherent divinity?

There is a divine power that is inherent in every human being. You must strive to manifest it.

Recognise that all the knowledge you have been able to acquire is because of this divine power within you.

You must cherish and foster that power.

Most people make use of this power for selfish purposes to promote the well-being of themselves and their families.

It should really be utilised for the good of the whole world.

You should live up to the ideal: "Rejoicing in the well-being of all".

Recognise the divinity in you and share that experience with all.

Use the divine power in you to cultivate virtues, which constitute the essence of education.

Lead a life which will earn for you the love of the people more than their respect.

- Divine Discourse, Jun 24, 1989.

You are deluded to think that you can get happiness from worldly objects. There is no happiness in this world. Everything is in you.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the vishwasa (faith) that should become our very swasa (breath)?

Never give room to the thought that you are the body. You are neither the body nor the mind.

The body is transitory like a bubble and the mind is crazy like a mad monkey. Hence, never set faith on the mind and the body but pin your faith on the conscience within you.

The human body, though decked with the finest of ornaments and dressed elegantly, carries no value, once the breath of life ceases.

For man, faith is his life breath. Vishwasa (Faith) is his Swasa (breath).

All attainments achieved by the body carry no value if he lacks faith. The key is the life of the lock, similarly, the Self is the key to our life! It is Atmic Consciousness which promotes the functions of the body.

The Atmic Consciousness manifests as ‘Soham’ in man. ‘Soham’ means “I am Divine”; ‘So’ is ‘That’ (Divine) and ‘Ham’ means ‘I’. ‘Soham’ is known as ‘Hamsa Gayatri’.

‘Hamsa’ signifies the power of discrimination, which enables man to be established in the faith that he is different from the body. The word ‘Gayatri’ signifies the mastery over ‘senses’.

- Summer Showers, May 20, 1993.

Man has sacrificed his Inner Divinity at the altar of his senses. He is selling away the jewel of life in exchange for charcoal!

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the essential precept of our culture, and why is it important for all?

Without yielding to the conditions of place, time and situation, our culture has always sought the underlying unity in the apparent diversity, by renouncing the narrow feelings of "I" and "mine".

Our sages considered dharma (righteousness) above everything. They recognised that the cosmos exists only on the power of dharma, that all beneficial acts emerge from dharma!

How must brothers behave with each other? How must children conduct themselves with parents and obey their wishes? What tolerance and self-control must exist in a husband-wife relationship?

All such questions are beautifully answered in the Scriptures. It demonstrates the fame and prosperity of a family in which brothers are united, where love pervades!

- Summer Showers, Jun 2, 1991.

When the Eternal, Indestructible, Formless Truth is given a form, that is Culture.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Are practices such as repeating the name of the Divine alone sufficient?

Many people complain that their troubles have not ended and He has shown no compassion towards them.

It is true that you are ceaselessly chanting the name of the Divine. But to what extent are you engaged in the service of Him?

By merely contemplating the name of the Divine, you cannot get His grace.

Devotees should realise that by merely uttering His Name, you cannot ensure His grace.

To what extent are you carrying out the injunctions of the Divine? How far are you practising the teachings of the Scriptures?

Without practising the precepts, no amount of repetition of the name of the Divine is of any use. It is merely like playing a gramophone record.

His name must get implanted in your heart.

- Divine Discourse, Feb 08, 1990

Love, Sacrifice, Service and Righteousness, are the four limbs of Religion.

Source: radiosai.org