InvestIdeas

How should we worship the Divine?

Many of you grieve: “It is said that getting the audience of a holy person is destruction of sin. Well, I have had darshan not once but many times, and yet, my evil fate has not left me and I am suffering even more than before!”.

True, you may have come and had darshan, and sowed fresh seeds secured from the holy places — seeds of love, faith, devotion, good company, pure thoughts, remembering His name, etc.

And you may have learnt the art of intensive cultivation and soil preparation. Now you have to carefully sow the seeds in well-prepared fields of cleansed hearts.

Until the new harvest, when the fresh produce comes in, don’t you have to consume the grain already stored in previous harvests?

The troubles and anxieties you experience now are the crop collected in your previous harvests, so do not grieve and lose heart!

- Shivaratri Discourse, March 1963.

A truly Divine-centred person has three qualities: Purity, Perseverance and Patience.

Source: radiosai.org

Why do we fall from the practice of righteousness? Why should we pay careful attention to our thoughts and attitudes?

The temptation to ignore Dharma grows from egoism; the wish to satisfy a lower desire is the root-cause of Unrighteousness.

This wish takes hold of you slyly and silently like a thief in the night, or like a comrade come to save you, or like a servant come to attend on you, or like a counsellor to warn you.

Oh, wickedness has a thousand tricks to capture your heart. Be ever alert against this kind of temptation.

The wish makes a chink in your consciousness, enters and establishes itself, multiplies and eats into the personality you built up with laborious care over years.

It then captures the fort of your heart and you are no longer in control; you become a puppet manipulated by your own inner enemies.

Whenever you try to rebuild yourself, they penetrate the structure and you will need to start again from ground zero! So be alert to resist the first temptation to ignore Dharma!

- Divine Discourse, Apr 15, 1964.

When duties are discharged properly, rights will be secured of their own accord.

Source: radiosai.org

Once left with S$1.87 in bank, S’porean lady, 34, breaks into tennis top 1,500 for first time
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How can one overcome the pulls of the ego?

To conquer egoism, no rigorous exercise or breath control is necessary.

Not even complicated scholarship.

If you have no wish for sensual pleasures, you have no ignorance.

- Divine Discourse, Apr 15, 1964.

“I – want – peace”. ‘I’ is ego, ‘want’ is desire. Remove ego and desire and you have peace.

Source: radiosai.org

What should we do to experience the Divine with all His splendor and glory?

A great painter once offered to do a fresco on the palace wall; with him came another, who declared that he would paint on the wall opposite whatever painting the great artist drew, even if curtains hid it from his view and the subject of the fresco was maintained a secret!

Both were commissioned to the tasks they offered! The second painter finished his work at the very moment the first one completed!

The prince arrived in the hall, where a thick curtain partitioned off the two artists. He admired the fresco very much and ordered the curtain to be removed, and lo, on the wall facing the fresco, there was an exact duplicate of that laborious picture! Exact - for the painter polished the wall, making it a fine big mirror!

Make your hearts clean, pure and smooth, so that the glory of the Divine might be reflected therein and the Divine might see His own image thereon!

- Shivaratri Discourse, March 1963.

To experience the proximity of the Divine the easiest path is remembering constantly the name of the Divine.

Source: radiosai.org

How should we conduct ourselves when we are faced with difficulties in life?

There are many obstacles along the path of devotion. Difficulties are meant for cleansing the heart and rendering it clean and pure.

Some people accuse, criticise and scorn or condemn the Divine when they are going through difficulties.

Each one has to face the consequences of their own actions. The Divine remains unaffected. He is pure, unsullied and sacred.

Let people say anything, be cool and calm. Do not enter into unnecessary arguments with anyone.

Arguments breeds only enmity. Always speak softly and sweetly with a smiling face. That will silence the critics. Smile is the best answer to criticism.

When Paul went on accusing Jesus, He lovingly went up to him and gave a pleasing smile. The sweetness in the nectarous smile of Jesus transformed the poisonous heart of Paul. Hence, be always cheerful, even in times of adversities.

Always put up a smiling face, never walk around with a ‘castor-oil face’. Happiness lies only in union with the Divine.

- Divine Discourse, Dec 25, 1998.

Serve all and be nothing.

Source: radiosai.org

Long-distance deaf couple’s love story melts hearts in China
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZdAzuNm01I

Whoever we may be, whatever level of heights in devotion we may have achieved, why should we always strive to purify our hearts?

When you purify your heart and surrender to the Divine completely, the Divine instantly manifests!

- Divine Discourse, Dec 25, 1998.

True devotion lies in accepting both pleasure and pain with equal-mindedness.

Source: radiosai.org

How should we deal with criticism and rejections in life?

Praise and censure are reflections of the inner being.

A virtuous person never criticises others; only the mean indulge in such unsacred activities.

The color you see depends on the color of glasses you wear. Wear the glasses of love, and you will see love all around.

Do not attach importance to criticism. If someone criticizes you loudly, it goes into thin air.

If they accuse you silently, it goes to themselves.

Are they criticising your body? The body is inert.

Are they criticising the Atma (Inner Self)? If so, the same Atma dwells in both and hence amounts to criticising themselves!

A true seeker of truth will realise this fact! Take time to recognise the hundred faults present within yourself.

Instead, why do you seek to point out the most insignificant fault in others? The bad in you reflects as the bad in others.

Choose to correct yourself first! Only then will your mind become pure. Thus always develop
sacred thoughts!

- Divine Discourse, Nov 23, 1998.

To achieve spiritual transformation, generously develop the qualities of kindness, love, forbearance and compassion.

Source: radiosai.org

Why should we always revere our motherland?

Under no circumstance should anyone criticise their Motherland. Under no circumstance must you criticise your Motherland.

Even in your dreams you should not think of forgetting or disowning your Motherland. That is true gratitude.

What is the use of taking birth as a human, if one lacks a sense of gratitude? The one without gratitude is a wicked person.

In the hymns that pertain to the worship of the Divine, it is said that the Divine may forgive any sin but not ingratitude. Hence, never fail to be grateful, and never give anyone the opportunity to accuse you of being ungrateful.

You must endeavour to enhance the glory of your culture. One’s mother and motherland are greater than the very heaven.

- Divine Discourse, May 27, 2000.

Only in the nation in which the goddess of Righteousness (Dharma) and Peace (Shanti)
are adored will genuine prosperity and happiness exist.

Source: radiosai.org