Life 37 (Sep 20 - Dec 20)

[winston]

Why is service a very important spiritual discipline?

The Scripture advises that service to the society is the highest service, as well as the most beneficial spiritual practice.

You cannot run away from this obligation; you have to use the community wherein you are born for sublimating your egoism and saving yourself.

- Divine Discourse, Jan 11, 1968.

Service taken up as a spiritual discipline (sadhana) teaches fortitude.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

The Meaning of Effort

Effort is more important than so-called success because effort is a real thing.

What we call “success” is just the manifestation of our mind’s ability to categorize things.

—Brad Warner, “Think Not Thinking”

[winston]

What should we accumulate today and every day?

Life has to be spent in accumulating virtue and safeguarding virtue, not riches.

Listen and ruminate over stories of great moral heroes of the past, so that their ideals may be imprinted on your hearts.

Virtue is becoming rare nowadays in the individual as well as in the family, society, and community, in all fields of life, be it economic, political and even 'spiritual’.

So also, there is a decline in discipline, which is the soil on which virtue grows.

Unless each one is respected, whatever the status, economic condition or spiritual development, there can be no peace and no happiness in life.

This respect can be aroused only by the conviction that the same Self (Atma) that is in you, is playing the role of the other person.

See that Atma in others; feel that they too have hunger, thirst, yearning and desires as you have; develop sympathy and the anxiety to serve and be useful!

- Divine Discourse, Feb 22, 1968.

Kindness and compassion are the hallmarks of a true human being.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why is it very important to practice righteous action, at every stage in our life?

Endeavour to earn Grace by observing the discipline that you should follow.

Give up the old worldly ways of earning and spending, saving and accumulating, with greed, lust, malice and pride; rearrange your lives so that the Divine will be pleased with you.

- Divine Discourse, Jan 11, 1968.

Do not waste time in idle gossip. Talk softly and talk as little as possible. Talk sweetly
and serve all as brothers and sisters, with adoration to the Divine in them.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Act for the Benefit of Yourself and Others

Before acting, one should reflect, “Is this for the benefit of myself and others?”.

In the middle of an action, one should reflect, “Is what I am doing for the benefit of myself
and others?”

And after any action, “Is what I just did for the benefit of myself and others?”

—Sylvia Boorstein, “Dear Abbey Dharma Fall 2011”

[winston]

What lesson should we remember, when we see the squirrel in a picture, just anywhere?

Service is the best cure for egoism; so, engage in it to relieve pain and grief to the extent that you can!

In the Scriptures, the apes brought huge rocks and threw them into the sea to build a passage.

The tiny squirrel too helped, as far as it could; it rolled on the sands on the seashore, ran towards the heap piled as part of the passage, whisked the sand from its fur by a vigorous shake, adding only a pinch of material to the quantity heaped by the giant apes.

The Divine saw the squirrel, He appreciated its devotion and He took it fondly in His palm.

The Divine stroked its back tenderly, and filled it with His blessing. That was ample reward.

The squirrel race has since acquired three lines on its back, to indicate that sign of gratification and Grace!

Try to assuage, as far as you can, the distress of others; it is the best sadhana (spiritual exercise) for the aspirant!

- Divine Discourse, Jan 13, 1968.

Service rendered without egoism, however small, will be highly beneficial.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Let a Quiet Mind Emerge

When the changing states of body-mind are simply left to themselves without any choice or judgment—left unreacted to by a controlling or repressive will—a new quietness emerges by itself.

—Toni Packer, “Unmasking the Self”

[winston]

How does sticking to Truth and Righteousness help us lead a peaceful life?

There are many who talk cynically of even Truth, Righteousness, Peace and Love.

They say that:-
1. If you stick to truth, nothing can be got done, that a little lie helps much;
2. That Righteousness is what suits the need of the moment;
3. That if you practise Peace, you will only receive all the blows on your own back;
4. That if you become famous as a man of Love, the entire village will squat on you and share your hard-earned wealth.

Therefore, they conclude, you will be a fool if you decide to practise these four virtues.

But just think a little and you will find out the absurdity of the criticism. It is the lie that requires intelligent bolstering, clever avoidance and deeper memory!

It is much easier to speak the truth and be done with it. What you have seen or heard or done, speak about these just as you saw or heard or did!

And, what is Righteousness? Practising what you preach, doing as you say, keeping precept and practice in line.

Earn virtuously, yearn piously; live in the fear of the Divine, live for reaching the Divine - that is Righteousness.

- Divine Discourse, Mar 30, 1965.

Realizing the Divive is the goal and destiny of human life.

Source: radiosai.org

[behappyalways]

Baking traditional pastries from his hometown is second act for retired Shanghai civil servant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AwhKIX787o

[winston]

Uncover What You Are

Underneath all the confusion of conceptual thinking and emotional reaction, underneath all the ideas you have about who and what you are, there is nothing—no self, not a vestige—but there is a clear empty knowing.

There! This is what you are.

—Ken McLeod, “Inside the Translator’s Workbook”