Life 23 (Jul 14 - Jan 15)

[winston]

What should be the primary objective of every single being in this Universe?

Is there any object in the world without a creator?

Consider a loud speaker. It has the power to broadcast sound, way beyond any individual’s voice and must take someone with required knowledge and skill to design and produce it. He or she may be in Germany, Switzerland or Japan, and perhaps invisible to you! Without that person, would this loudspeaker have come into existence? No!

Similarly for everything that you enjoy in this world, there is a Creator. The stars that twinkle, the Sun and the Moon that illumine the world have been created by a Supreme Infinite Power. It is obvious to us that no ordinary person can create these super objects and ensure they are still working, after billions of years.

Scriptures (Vedas) describe to us that this Super Power is Aprameya (One beyond description, beyond all proofs and limitations).

The primary objective of every being in this Universe must be to seek and understand this Infinite Power.
- Divine Discourse, March 1, 1981.

The uniqueness of every being is one of the marvels of creation. Defect lies in vision, not in creation. So purify your vision and sanctify your heart.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Which is the most auspicious temple of the Divine?

The alarm clock wakes us by ringing the alarm at the right time.

Similarly great sages of ancient times woke up human beings from the slumber of ignorance, warned them at the appropriate time and in the correct manner. They often gave powerful messages that warned all to stop ignoring and start recognizing the Omnipresent Divinity.

Words of such great souls must constantly ring in your hearts and guide and illumine your lives. Jesus Christ proclaimed that everyone is an embodiment of Divinity in this human form and every being is a messenger of God. He demonstrated in his life that every ounce of this human body till the last drop of blood must be dedicated to the service of humanity.

Jesus declared, “A heart filled with love and compassion is the real temple of the Lord!” Your true offering to the Loving Divine would be the dedication of your life to practice their teachings with your heart and soul.

- Divine Discourse, Dec 25, 1980.

The best way to love the Divine is to love all, serve all.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the torch we must acquire to tread safely and bravely through the dark spots in our life’s journey?

When you walk on the road in an evening and suddenly find a thick piece of long rope lying on the ground, instinctively you think of it as a snake and get scared!

Where did this fear come from? How does it disappear? Did the snake change into a rope for your fear to disappear? No!

The rope is still a rope, you mistook it to be a snake! The hallucination effect you had is a result of the worldly point of view.

Realize that the whole world is a manifestation of the Divine (Brahman). Your vision is blurred by ignorance, illusion and hallucination, which sees the world as material objects and not as Divine Creations.

Know that all you see in the world and think as real is actually unreal and false. The spiritual point of view clarifies your vision, and will let you experience truth as truth and will remove any fear.

- Divine Discourse, Dec 25, 1980.

Purify your emotions, strengthen your mind to resist the force of ignorance and the wiles of the senses – then you are assured of peace and joy.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

How to logically convince ourselves of the existence of a Higher Power?

We generally consider direct perception as the most important type of evidence. We are able to see our body, the number of hands, legs, eyes we have and so on. This is one type of proof.

Consider another example: We boil milk. After heating, we add some yoghurt to it in the night and wake up the next morning to find that the whole milk has turned into curd (yoghurt). Though our eyes don’t see the transformation process, our own action provides us the proof and we don’t need anyone else to convince us that the change from milk to curd has really occurred, though the change process was not visible directly to our eyes.

So too, though the Soul (Atma) is invisible, and we cannot see it, we must have faith in its existence.

Several great sages and saints have had the direct experience of Divinity in their present lives and have conveyed the teachings to us.

- My Dear Students, Vol 2, Ch 15, Mar 1, 1981.

You worship with faith and you experience Grace. Faith results in Grace, without your being aware of it.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the best way to tame your mind?

Ignorance has a very powerful influence on the mind.

Arjuna said to Krishna, “The mind is very powerful, however it has a wavering nature.” Lord Krishna said, “A bee has the strength to drill a hole in the hardest variety of wood. However when it enters a lotus, if the lotus closes its petals, then even with all its might, the bee cannot come out of it.

Similarly once the all-powerful mind comes to the lotus feet of the Lord it becomes powerless and surrenders. However potent or wavering one’s mind may be, it can be and must be controlled with spiritual practice (Sadhana).

When Jesus was nailed in the Cross, his followers were deeply pained and in great grief. He said, “Just as this body had a dress, this body is just an attire for the soul. Do not grieve”. He taught his followers, “Do not harm anyone or hurt anyo ne. Treat everyone alike.”

Everyone must practice these teachings.

- My Dear Students, Vol 2, Ch 15, Mar 1, 1981.

Open the gates of wisdom, tear the veil of ignorance, and enter the abode of Divine Bliss. Then you will rest in peace forever.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What tools should we use to infer the presence of the Divine?

Inference is one method of verification or understanding.

We see smoke at a distant hill. From the smoke that emanates, it is easy to decipher that there must be fire somewhere in the hill. Although you see only the smoke, we infer the existence of the “unseen” from the presence of what is seen. This type of verification is called Inferential Proof.

These methods of verification – direct or inferential proof is applicable only to the external universe. To determine the Divine Principle, one must depend only upon the scriptures.

When the Divine is described as the One without the attributes, eternal, ever existing, pure and free, self-effulgent, etc. – all these appellations will not make Divine visible to you.

You must follow the teachings and realize the existence of the Divine within you and around you.

- My Dear Students, Vol 2, Ch 15, Mar 1, 1981.

Fire is seen when ash is blown away. Similarly you can have the vision of the Self when you give up body attachment.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Which illness takes the longest time to heal?

Naxalites ( terrorists ) are not merely the people who hold guns and pistols. Anyone who hurts others in thoughts, words and deeds is a naxalite.

Three important things that all of you must pay attention to are your thoughts, words and deeds. When there is a thought, the word follows and then the body acts.

In the arena of thoughts, never think evil of others. Next is word. Never use harsh words, do not humiliate others and never try to deceive others with your words.

If one is killed with a knife or a pistol, they die immediately. But if you hurt a person with words, he or she will be pained till their death.

Medicines exist for all external injuries, however no medicine or doctor can heal the wound or injury inflicted through words. Therefore the harm done by words is more dangerous and takes a long time to heal.

Spiritual ways alone can alter the harm done by thoughts, words and deeds.

- My Dear Students, Vol 5, Ch 2, Mar 9, 1993.

Believe that the Divine resides in all beings. Speak such words as would spread goodness, truth and beauty.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

How should we respond to difficulties and sorrows in life?

You eat food daily, take in thousands of grains! Have you ever calculated how many rice grains you have consumed?

However the moment one minute stone comes in the rice you eat, you are very unhappy that day and complain that your food has stones.

Similarly your life is three fourths happiness and one fourth sorrow. But you become a victim to sorrow. You choose to give more importance to sorrow than happiness.

This is an animal quality (Pashu Lakshanam). Teach your tongue not to lose its reputation by following the wrong path. Your tongue is capable of raising you to Divine or droop to that of an animal.

If someone is good to you, the tongue praises them as God Himself. If someone harms you, the tongue then equates them to an animal.

Teach your tongue to ever chant the Name of the Lord and never to criticize anybody!

- My Dear Students, Vol 5, Ch 2, Mar 9, 1993.

Keep your tongue under strict control. The manner in which you employ it determines your fame or ignominy.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the one pursuit we must never forsake, no matter where we are, what we do?

All of you are sparks of the Divine.

Just as a spark of the fire from the furnace, after a while, turns into ash, you too forget your divine origin.

When you pursue your education, you must also pursue spiritual discipline, which will lead you to Divinity.

Those that study in Institutions that have a spiritual discipline, must consider themselves extremely fortunate.

If you choose to adhere to the ideals learnt and practice even a small fraction of the Lord’s teachings, you will realize the true purpose of education and the true objective of human life.

Education without right conduct is of no value. You must make use of what you have learnt, not just for earning a living but also for service to the society.

Only then your degrees will have any meaning. Whatever job you take up, wherever you work, you must continue the practice of spiritual discipline and aim for Self realisation.

- My Dear Students, Vol 2, Ch 15, Mar 1, 1981.

Just as fire is needed till the rice is cooked, so also the spiritual practices are needed till you realize the innate divinity.-

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the essence of all religions?

Religions are set forth in order that people enjoy the benefits of leading a moral life.

Religion is a meritorious system that unifies body, mind and intellect.

Integrity or wholesomeness of conduct is morality.

Morality is also called as Righteousness (Dharma). Practice of morality alone can help the world attain greater levels of prosperity.

All religions have the same goal and establish the same truth. Their fundamental duty is to transform a human being into a divine being.

Religion brings out the inner transformation in a human being. It aims at developing self-confidence to lead a good life.

All religions are built on the secure foundation of morality. If morality deteriorates, not just religions, but humanity as a whole deteriorates.

Every individual must practice being good and lead a moral life. Attainment of wealth and prosperity is possible by practicing moral values.

- My Dear Students, Vol 2, Ch 16, Jul 23, 1989

Adore all religions; they are all pathways to the one Divine.


Source: radiosai.org