Life 41 (Oct 21 - Jan 22)

[winston]

Heal Yourself and Others

We overcome deep-rooted self-centered habits by working compassionately for the healing of our societies and the healing of the earth.

This is what’s required for the Buddhist path to become truly liberative in the modern world.

— David Loy, “Awakening in the Age of Climate Change”

[winston]

How do we carry forward the beautiful vibrations of any prayer sessions that we all participated in?

Always attend to your duties with a pleasant and smiling face. There is no use putting a ‘castor oil face’.

“Happiness is union with the Divine.” That is real Divinity.

When you are confronted with difficult situations, do not get upset constantly worrying, “Oh! How do I cross this situation?”.

For example, young people are often confronted with “marriage worry”. Such worry will worsen the situation.

Repose your faith in the Divine. Think that it’s not marriage but ‘my raise’, an opportunity for your betterment! If you develop such an attitude, your life will be sanctified.

Whoever does namasmarana (rememberance of the Divine's name), whatever be the name one takes and wherever one is, one’s life will be sanctified. He will be free from sin!

You needn’t be too much concerned with tune and rhythm. There is only one tune, that’s the Tune arising from one’s own heart. That is ‘Soham’ (identifying oneself with the Universe).

Let your life be tuned to this tune of ‘Soham’. Then, whatever activity you undertake, it becomes a success!

- Divine Discourse, Nov 13, 2007.

Develop love, scatter love, reap love, there’s no religion higher than that.
That is the noblest service.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What Is Prayer?

Prayer means accepting that I don’t know what’s good for me or for the world but I trust that goodness exists anyway.

— Hannah Tennant-Moore, “Buddhism’s Higher Power”

[winston]

What will yield us real satisfaction and sanctify our lives?

People worship the Divine with devotion and sincerity but Heis not satisfied with external worship.

You should serve society. Only service can confer bliss on you.

By rendering service to society, not only can you alleviate the suffering of the people but you can also bring about transformation in their lives.

As is the feeling, so is the result. If you serve with sacred feelings, it’s bound to yield sacred results.

Serve society to your utmost capacity. You are doing spiritual practices in the morning and evening. The satisfaction that you get by participating in these spiritual practices is temporary, whereas service confers permanent satisfaction.

Time is the most precious gift of the Divine but you are wasting it in vain pursuits and unsacred feelings.

Sanctify the time given to you by serving society. Through service alone can one get rid of worries, ego, pomp and show and other evil qualities.

- Divine Discourse, Aug 22, 2000.

The exemplary man is the one who causes no pain to others, who feels no pain himself and who leads a life of service to others.

Source: radiosai.org

[behappyalways]

Elderly man, 83, still fixes bicycles at Pasir Ris void deck to pay for kidney dialysis
https://mothership.sg/2021/11/elderly-man-fix-bicycles/

[winston]

Living Fully

To live fully means to be in touch with the impermanence of living in the service of greater compassion and equanimity, like a steady bamboo reed on a windy day.

— Anthony Tshering, “How the Concept of Impermanence Can Help Anxiety-Ridden Millennials”

[winston]

What are our true power and our most precious possession?

The power of the divine name is unparalleled. People often take it lightly.

That’s a mistake. One shouldn’t mistake a shining glass piece to be a diamond. The real diamond is altogether different.

What is that diamond? ‘Die mind’. The Divine’s name is the real diamond.

Keep it safe and secure. Don’t ever be bothered by pain and suffering, losses and difficulties. They just come and go. That’s not your real nature.

Your innate Self is strong, eternal and real (sat). You shouldn’t follow fleeting and unreal waves, forsaking your own true and eternal nature.

Unfortunately, today, people are following only unreal and passing waves. If you hold on to fleeting and unreal things, you’ll always be deceived.

Once you seek refuge in the lotus feet of the Divine, you should never give up. Wherever you go, Divine feet will protect you.

If you install divine name firmly in your heart, your life will become sanctified. That is bhakti (devotion). That is your Shakti (power). That is mukti (liberation)!

- Divine Discourse, Nov 13, 2007.

Keep the name of the Divine always radiant on your tongue and mind, which will keep the antics of the mind under control.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

The Middle Way

There’s a natural balance, a dance, between embracing and releasing: turning your surroundings into yourself, like the tree that absorbs carbon dioxide and turning yourself into your surroundings, like the same tree releasing oxygen. This is what Buddhists call the Middle Way.

— Jack Haubner, “Consider the Seed”

[winston]

Why should we disregard petty or wrong ideas on the Divine, regardless of any Divine we adore?

You are attributing various names and forms to the Divine for your own satisfaction, but He is essentially one.

Be He Rama, Krishna, Allah or Jesus, all their teachings are meant for the emancipation of man.

No religion preaches violence or to harm anybody. Some evil-minded people are misinterpreting sacred teachings and indulging in wicked deeds.

All noble souls have taught sacred things. They said: “Love all”. They did not preach hatred.

The Divine never tells anyone to kill others. No one has any right to kill others because the same Atma (Inner-Self) is present in all.

In the name of the Divine, people are committing heinous crimes. It is not good for anybody.

There is no Divine greater than love. Love is Divine, He is love. Live in love.

Destroy wicked qualities. Mean-minded people try to attribute their meanness to Him. It’s a sign of ignorance.

Don’t pay heed to such people. Have faith in your own Self. Otherwise, you cannot love the Divine.

- Divine Discourse, Dec 25, 2001.

Soak your heart in love, soak your acts in righteousness, soak your emotions
in compassion; then you attain Divinity soonest.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why should we disregard petty or wrong ideas on the Divine, regardless of any Divine we adore?

You are attributing various names and forms to the Divine for your own satisfaction, but He is essentially one.

Be He Rama, Krishna, Allah or Jesus, all their teachings are meant for the emancipation of man.

No religion preaches violence or to harm anybody. Some evil-minded people are misinterpreting sacred teachings and indulging in wicked deeds.

All noble souls have taught sacred things. They said: “Love all”. They did not preach hatred.

The Divine never tells anyone to kill others. No one has any right to kill others because the same Atma (Inner-Self) is present in all.

In the name of the Divine, people are committing heinous crimes. It is not good for anybody.

There is no Divine greater than love. Love is Divine, He is love. Live in love.

Destroy wicked qualities. Mean-minded people try to attribute their meanness to Him. It’s a sign of ignorance.

Don’t pay heed to such people. Have faith in your own Self. Otherwise, you cannot love the Divine.

- Divine Discourse, Dec 25, 2001.

Soak your heart in love, soak your acts in righteousness, soak your emotions
in compassion; then you attain Divinity soonest.

Source: radiosai.org