Life 23 (Jul 14 - Jan 15)

[winston]

Understanding Desire

We have to understand desire; and it is very difficult to understand something which is so vital, so demanding, so urgent, because in the very fulfillment of desire passion is engendered with the pleasure and the pain of it.

And if one is to understand desire, obviously, there must be no choice.

You cannot judge desire as being good or bad, noble or ignoble, or say, "I will keep this desire and deny that one."

All that must be set aside if we are to find out the truth of desire, the beauty of it, the ugliness or whatever it may be.

- Krishnamurti, J. Krishnamurti, The Book of Life

Source: www.jkrishnamurti.com

[winston]

What lessons can we learn from our tongue?

“Oh tongue, you are the one selected to enjoy the sweet taste; you speak truth that symbolises sacrifice! You respect yourself and others.

Without leaving your home, you attend to your work, without friendship or friction with your neighbours.

How sweet are the words you speak? Oh noble one, you recite lovely poems and sing beautiful songs.

When any tasty dish or fruit is given to you, you don’t retain it, but immediately send it down the gullet to the stomach.

When anything bitter is given, you spit it out, saving the stomach from hardships. You are selfless, derive much joy in sharing and are the epitome of tolerance.

You live amidst 32 sharp teeth, but intelligently and tactfully you conduct yourself without getting a single cut.

Please don’t slip and utter inappropriate words at any time!”

Thus, remind the tongue about its noble qualities and teach it never to lose its reputation by criticising others.

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

When the tooth accidentally bites your tongue, do you get angry and break the teeth that hurt it so? No! For, the teeth and tongue are both yours! Similarly, the one who hurts you and you, are both limbs of the same body called the Divine

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Desire Has to Be Understood

Let us go on to consider desire.

We know, do we not, the desire which contradicts itself, which is tortured, pulling in different directions; the pain, the turmoil, the anxiety of desire, and the disciplining, the controlling.

And in the everlasting battle with it we twist it out of all shape and recognition; but it is there, constantly watching, waiting, pushing.

Do what you will, sublimate it, escape from it, deny it or accept it, give it full rein: it is always there.

And we know how the religious teachers and others have said that we should be desireless, cultivate detachment, be free from desire, which is really absurd, because desire has to be understood, not destroyed.

If you destroy desire, you may destroy life itself. If you pervert desire, shape it, control it, dominate it, suppress it, you may be destroying something extraordinarily beautiful.

- Krishnamurti, J. Krishnamurti, The Book of Life

Source: www.jkrishnamurti.com

[winston]

In what way is the message of all religions the same?

No religion ever preached enmity amongst faiths. It is the narrow-mindedness in individuals that gives room for conflicts and differences.

Truly speaking, there can be no scope for any such disputes.

For example, the word ‘Islam’ means surrender and peace – signifying surrender to God, and a peaceful life with fellow beings. Two words in Quran are important – Salaat and Zakaat; Salaat means adoring God with steadfast devotion, Zakaat means charity to the needy and destitute, and helping fellow beings.

Ancient Hindus lived with the motto, “May all the beings in all the worlds be happy” and “Help Ever, Hurt Never”.

Treating such aphorisms as their life breath, people of all religions lived with amity and harmony in the past. They considered truth, peace, love and forbearance as their very life breath.

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

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

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

"Life is like a 10-speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use."
-- Charles Schulz, Cartoonist

[winston]

What is the difference between absolute truth and worldly truth?

There is no Divine other than Truth. What is the difference between Truth and fact?

You may put on a coat today and wear a different dress tomorrow. This is not Truth, it is only a fact, because it is subject to change.

But Truth always remains the same. Truth is not reporting what you see, hear, and experience. What you see and hear is worldly truth. It is not Truth in the strict sense of the word. It is only external truth. But the inward Truth remains the same in the past, present, and the future.

In this world of plurality, there is the underlying principle of unity. Of all the numbers 1,2, 3, 4.. the most important number is 1. AIl the other numbers are mere modifications of the number 1. 1+1 becomes 2. 9–1 becomes 8. Thus 1 forms the basis for all the numbers. This is the unity in multiplicity, this Unity is the Truth.

- Divine Discourse, Sep 11, 1988.

Always remember these three facts in your mind: Trust not the world. Never Forget the Divine. Do not fear death.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

How should we live in peace and amity, and resolve differences on important religious matters?

The foundation for everything is morality. Without moral values, humanity cannot survive.

Often, people of different religions hold on to different objectives and are unable to see the underlying reality, and as a result have different opinions.

For example: one says a rupee consists of 4 quarter rupees and another says it is 2 half-rupees and the third says it is ten 10 paisa. All these denominations mean the same rupee.

Only ignorant people, who become dogmatic and fail to perceive this oneness, imagine differences and resort to criticizing each other.

Sacred scriptures have taught that there should be no arguments or debates on religious matters. They must be resolved peacefully.

The guidelines of all religions lead to the end goal of Truth and Righteousness.

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

Do not hate or make fun of any religion. Don’t have any differences claiming that your religion is better. Be alike to everyone.

source: radiosai.org

[winston]

If everything is in essence Divinity, why do we perceive different entities?

The Reality which sustains the cosmos and the cell is one, the all-pervasive Consciousness (Brahmam).

When this infinite vastness is related to the cosmos, it is called the ‘Supreme Divine’ (Paramatma).

It is called Atma when it is considered as the core of individual beings.

All three are one entity, but they 'appear' different and delude the short-sighted. This characteristic is known as Maya.

The Supreme Power uses the three Gunas, serenity (Satwa), activity (Rajas) and inertia (tamas) to express Itself differently.

The Gunas urge a person towards knowing, desiring or working.

When Maya impels Brahmam to project itself, leveraging Satwa Guna, it appears as Eshwara or Divine.

Brahmam projects itself as living beings (Jivi) leveraging Rajo Guna.

It becomes Nature (Prakriti) when associated with Tamo Guna.

Thus Brahmam is the basis of all three – Nature, Living Beings and the Divine.

Maya is the mirror in which Brahmam is reflected.

- Divine Discourse, Sep 7, 1985.

Those who recognizes Divinity within themselves and in all beings dwell in the constant presence of the Divine, wherever they are.


Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Where in the world can we get the precious commodity, the diamond called Love?

Love is a precious diamond that can be got only in the realm of love and nowhere else.

The kingdom of Love is located in every love-filled heart.

Love can be experienced only in a mind flowing with love. The precious diamond of Love cannot be obtained merely through meditation or following prescribed sacred rituals.

At best they only give mental satisfaction. The greater your love for the Divine, the greater is the bliss you experience.

When love declines in you, your joy also declines proportionally. Hence you must fill your heart with love for the Divine.

Love will not enter your heart if it is already filled with selfishness and self-conceit. Hence forget your petty self and concentrate your thoughts on the Divine.

If you love the Divine, you will see Him everywhere. The essence of all spiritual disciplines is contained in Love.

- Divine Discourse, Sep 2, 1991.

Love is the Divine’s only property. It cannot be purchased anywhere; it issues from the heart.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What are our hands meant for?

Tell your hand, “Oh hand, how sacred you are? You are unity personified.

One finger cannot lift a cup; when one finger moves to pick it up, all of you, though different in sizes and shape, rush to help and hold the cup!

You don’t care for or observe any difference. Such is the unity inherent in you, amongst your fingers.

Oh hand, you are very helpful in preserving the human body, you remove troubles through your hard work and you help others. Why do you sometimes act in a manner that develops enmity?

Today there is no unity in any congregation, society or religion. However, you know no hatred. Please never indulge in wrong actions.”

Thus instruct and guide your hand so that your actions become sacred. When your thoughts, words and deeds are sanctified, all the other instruments also follow suit and thus you attain liberation.

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

Hands that help are holier than lips that pray.

Source: radiosai.org