Life 35 (Jan 20 - May 20)

[winston]

Break the Cycle of Reaction

When there is no attachment or identification with thoughts and feelings, there is no reactive push into action creating more doing, more karma. …

We get to the point where our acts are not done out of attachment but instead are just done as they’re done and no new stuff is being created.

—Ram Dass, “Karmuppance”

[winston]

Why should we reform ourselves and pray for the well-being of everyone?

Never indulge in revilement of others, for the same Inner-Self (Atma) is permeating every living being.

If you abuse others, it amounts to abusing your own self. If you do not like them, keep yourself away from them, but never abuse them.

Any amount of good work done by you, will be of no use if you do not identify and give up your bad qualities.

If you cannot do good to others, at least speak good words. You may not always oblige, but you can always speak obligingly.

If you find someone suffering, try to help them. Today it is their turn, but tomorrow it could be yours. Always keep this in mind.

Nobody can escape pain and suffering. Always tread the path of truth and morality. The Divine is love. Whatever He does is for your own good.

Always pray for the welfare of all, repeating the universal prayer, “May all the people of the world be happy!”

- Divine Discourse, Dec 25, 2002.

Dedicate your whole life to the Divine and carry on your every activity as an offering unto Him.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What Can Inspire Your Practice?

Experience is the seed of aspiration, the deeply rooted commitment to know.

That aspiration then drives one into the difficult and transformative realm of spiritual pursuit, into the realm of practice.

—Adam Frank, “In the Light of Truth”

[winston]

What is prayer and how should we pray?

We speak often about prayer. Prayer does not mean petitioning the Divine.

Prayer is an index of the experience of Inner-Self (Atmic) bliss. It is a method to share this bliss, spreading it all around, and being immersed in that bliss.

Prayer must come from the heart. Prayer that is not heartfelt is utterly useless.

The Divine will accept a heart without words. But He will not accept words and prayers that do not come from the heart. This is why the Divine is described as the Lord of the Heart.

It is only when you have faith in this, that you will be able to manifest your Divinity.

The Divine is inside you, outside you, and around you. Recognise this truth and live according to it.

So long as you are filled with doubts, you will not experience peace or happiness.

- Divine Discourse, Jul 29, 1988.

Prayer must come from the depths of feeling; the Divine looks for sincerity of feeling,
not outward pomp.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Notice the Truth of the Moment

Noticing what is taking place—as opposed to what one wishes would take place, or what one fears might take place, or what one grieves over as having already taken place—is a way of life that is completely free of all self-imposed restrictions and conflicting states of mind.

—Diana St. Ruth, “The Way”

[winston]

At times, we are discouraged with what we see around and earnestly feel that sincere devotion, peace and truth should grow in the world. What should we do?

The Divine is the Indweller in every body. He is the the Source of Bliss in every individual.

He is the very embodiment of Righteousness, of all the codes of morality that hold mankind together in love and unity.

The Scriptures teaches two lessons:
1. The value of detachment and
2. The need to become aware of the Divine in every being.

Faith in the Divine and detachment from objective pursuits, are the keys for human liberation. Give up sense objects, and you gain Divinity.

Renunciation leads to joy; attachment brings about grief.

Be in the world, but not of it.

Make your heart pure and strong, contemplating the grandeur of the Scriptures.

Be established in the faith that Divinity is the Reality of your existence.

- Rama Katha Rasavahini, Ch 1, The Inner Meaning.

Renunciation leads to joy; attachment brings about grief. Be in the world, but not of it.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Restoring Order During Painful Times

Realizing one is simply part of the machinery, or the music, of the universe, with its resonating structure of wave patterns: this one giving rise to this one, giving rise to this one … to hear this music, piercing as it is, restores a measure of order in the havoc of pain.

—Noelle Oxenhandler, “A Streetcar in Your Stomach”

[winston]

What Silence Offers

Silence offers us the unique opportunity to meet our incessant internal noise, the constant stream of mental and emotional activity that generally goes unnoticed or unexamined.

—Beth Roth, “Family Dharma: The Fragility of Silence”

[winston]

Studying what scriptures or performing what rituals, enables us to reach the heavens?

Once, three persons reached the gates of heaven.

One of them declared that he was the master of all scriptures and therefore, the gates should be opened to let him in. The guardians of the gate said: "You are familiar only with the texts. You have no practical experience. You may leave."

The second man said: "I have performed many sacrificial rites and rituals. The guardians told him: "You have performed the sacrifices for selfish aims. You have no place here."

The hird person, a farmer, neared the gates and said: "I am a poor farmer, owning a hut on two acres of land. I have been offering food and drink to passers-by and giving them shelter when necessary. I have shared with them whatever little I had. This is all the spiritual practice (sadhana) I have been able to practice." The guardians said: "You may enter."

The story illustrates the truth that only those who are prepared to sacrifice what little they have for relieving others in need, are entitled to enter heaven.

- Divine Discourse, Mar 26, 1988.

Pure Love will never submit itself to the forces of envy, greed or hatred, however powerful they may be.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the important spiritual lesson we must learn from the scriptures and our ancient seers?

This world is the Divine’s residence. Therefore, no one should entertain a sense of personal possession or even a trace of egotism.

Renounce the feeling of attachment and feel the presence of the Divine everywhere. Give up the feelings “I” and “you”; only then you will understand the glory of that which is neither “I” nor “mine”.

This does not involve your renouncing everything. The acid test by which an activity can be confirmed as holy or sacred, is to examine whether it promotes attachment or avoids bondage.

The acid test to decide whether an activity is unholy or sinful, is to examine whether it arises from or promotes greed.

The real teaching directs that the world be dealt with as duty demands but in a spirit of detachment and avoiding entanglement.

Welcome the spiritual bliss that the Divine, the embodiment of spiritual bliss, confers on you and experience it with thankfulness and without being bound by desire.

- Vidya Vahini, Ch 1.

Let compassion and sacrifice be your two eyes; let egolessness be your every breath and love become your tongue.

Source: radiosai.org