Life 34 (Sept 19 - Jan 20)

[winston]

What Happens When You Still Your Mind

Our mind is analogous to a cup of muddy water.

The longer you keep a cup of muddy water still, the more the mud settles down and the water will be seen clearly.

—Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, “Sitting Still”

[winston]

What Can Humility Make Room For?

Our commitment to awakening, asks us to honestly explore the ways in which conceit manifests in our lives and to find the way to its end.

The cessation of conceit allows the fruition of empathy, kindness, compassion, and awakening.

—Christina Feldman, “Long Journey to a Bow”

[winston]

How can we transform our life into a continuous flow of devotion unto Him?

You must be happy that the Divine has placed newer and newer materials to serve Him and worship Him in various means and forms.

Pray for ever new opportunities and exult in the chance that your hands receive. This attitude gives immeasurable joy.

To lead a life suffused with this joy is indeed bliss. Whatever is done from sunrise to sunset must be consecrated as if it is the worship of the Divine.

Just as care is taken to pluck only fresh flowers and to keep them clean and unfaded, so too, ceaseless effort should be made to do deeds that are pure and unsullied.

If this vision is kept before the mind's eye everyday and life is lived accordingly, then it becomes one long unbroken service of the Divine.

The feeling of 'I' and 'You' will soon disappear; all traces of self will be destroyed. Life then transmutes itself into a veritable devotion to the Divine.

- Prema Vahini, Ch 8.

The Divine is all mercy; adore Him as long as you have breath, so long as you are conscious.

Source: radiosai.org

[behappyalways]

Coping with the Idea of Death
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-KWkYxVMj4

[winston]

How should our every little mundane activity in daily living be?

A piece of mysorepak (an Indian sweet made of gram flour) has sweetness, weight, and shape; the three cannot be separated, one from the other.

Each little part of the sweet has sweetness, weight, and shape. We don't find shape in one part, weight in another and sweetness in a third.

And when it is placed on the tongue, taste is recognised, weight is lessened, and shape is modified - all at the same time.

So too, the individual soul, the Atma and the Divine are not separate; they are one and the same.

Similarly every individual deed, all activities in life must be full of the spirit of selfless service (seva), divine love (prema), and spiritual wisdom (jnana).

This is verily the yoga of the Supreme. It must be practiced in action, not merely spoken in words.

Spiritual discipline must be constantly done with an ever expanding heart full of devotion and spiritual wisdom.

- Prema Vahini, Ch 9.

Selfless loving service is the highest form of worship and the best penance.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the key message of the Scriptures as we perform our daily actions?

The Scriptures does not encourage inertia, indifference or slothfulness. It recommends Karma (Deed) as a divine communion (Yoga), as an activity in tune with the Divine Will, and directed to the promotion of one's spiritual consummation.

Karma (Deed) must be an act of fulfilment, of adoration and of one's duty to oneself and others.

The Scriptures marks out the steps and the path towards the realisation of this goal. It accepts all attitudes as valuable and sublimates each one into a spiritual effort (sadhana).

No one can do better than their best. The body is gifted with all its inherent excellences and defects so that every moment of life can be used for purposes that can sanctify time through service, sacrifice and love.

Mundane action (Karma) then becomes Karma-yoga (Divine Communion), karma yoked with unselfish ideals.

- Divine Discourse Sep 10, 1984.

Transform work into worship, and worship into wisdom.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Create Light with Your Actions

Just as fire can be used for beneficial purposes or for destruction, our actions can create either happiness or suffering.

—Beth Roth, “Family Dharma: The Sacred and the Ordinary”

[winston]

What is most essential to bring about harmony and accord in society?

The power of Love is infinite. It can conquer anything.

Once while Lord Buddha was journeying, He was confronted by a demoness who threatened to kill Him. Smilingly, Buddha said: "You are not a demon; you are a deity! I love you even if you behave like a demon." Hearing these loving words, the demoness turned into a dove and flew away.

Love can change the heart of even an inveterate enemy. It is this kind of Universal love that should be cultivated by everyone.

There are people professing different faiths in the world - Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Zorastrians and so on. There should be no difference or distrust amongst religions, for all of them uphold Truth and Righteousness (Dharma).

Today, the world is bedevilled by conflict and violence. Peace and prosperity can emerge only when people turn to the path of love and morality, and lead purposeful lives.

- Divine Discourse, Dec 25, 1986.

Good Character is Real Power!

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Can Solitude Include Connection?

For me, solitude is not loneliness but a space where I can be fully aware of the myriad ways that all things, myself included, are connected.

—Lauren Krauze, “Not Alone During the Holidays”

[winston]

A Generous Love

Imagine loving one hundred percent. Imagine acknowledging someone one hundred percent, with no thought of getting something in return.

—Roshi Nancy Mujo Baker, “On Not Being Stingy”