Life 23 (Jul 14 - Jan 15)

[winston]

What is the relation between the Creator and His Creation? What message should we take from the Creator to get closer to Him?

The external is the creation of the internal. Brahmam manifested itself as the Universe.

The Divne created the world; the world conferred the glory of 'Creator' on the Divine.

Through his yearning, imagination and intensity, man endowed the Divine with a form and name, and a bunch of attributes from which he hopes to benefit. But, the Divine is above and beyond human traits and characteristics known as Gunas.

Krishna told Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita, "I have no need to engage Myself in any activity. But yet, I am busy acting, in order to promote the well-being of the Universe."

The Gita refers to its chapters as Yoga. Yoga means union of the Self with its source. How do the eighteen chapters, each aYoga, help man to fulfill his destiny?

The Gita provides the answer: "Yoga is being in a state of equal-mindedness or equanimity".

- Divine Discourse, Sep 7, 1985.

Fortune is as much a challenge to one’s equanimity as misfortune.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the connection between Freedom and Spirituality? What is true freedom?

In three situations, you do not have freedom: the discharge of duties (karthavyam), actions done under compulsion (nirbandham) and obligatory actions arising out of certain relationships (sambandham).

If a poor man, unable to get food, resorts to stealing, he cannot claim that he is exercising his freedom to appease his hunger. Even if, for his own selfish reasons, he may try to justify the stealing, his conscience will tell him that he is committing wrong. Any action performed against one’s conscience is not an act of freedom.

True freedom happens only when one is free from the impulses of the mind. Freedom (Swechcha) is made up of the words: Swa + ichcha. ‘Swa’ means Atma.

Only when the will of the Atma prevails can there be real freedom. The Divine and you are not separate. This oneness should not be a mere intellectual concept. It should be a living reality. Then you will experience true freedom - the freedom of the Spirit.

- Divine Discourse, May 31, 1990.

The state when your mind and intellect unites, is called freedom, also known as liberation (Moksha).

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What tools should we use to infer the presence of the Divine?

In ancient times, the sages performed rigorous penance in the forests, living among wild animals. With no weapons in their hands, they relied on their spirit of love to protect them.

They performed their penance with love for all beings. Their love transformed even the wild animals to be at peace with the sages.

Love transformed even tigers into friendly beings. People in those days had soft and loving hearts. Thus since time immemorial, love has been serving as a powerful force to transform one's nature from the animal to the human.

Today because people have lost the feeling of love, they are filled with selfishness and greed. It is to teach mankind the truth about this Divine Love that Love itself incarnates on earth in human form.

The scriptures declare that the Divine descends on earth to teach mankind the path of Righteousness, Truth and Love.

- Divine Discourse, Sep 02, 1991.

Injuring or Hurting or Causing harm to another is a sign of animality.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

How to ensure our love for the Divine grows with every passing day?

All have faith in the power of love. But how is this love to be fostered and developed? This question may arise in the minds of many.

When people ask, "How can we develop our love for the Lord?" The answer is: "There is only one way. When you put into practice the love in which you have faith, that love will grow." Because you do not practise what you profess, your faith gets weakened.

A plant will grow only when it is watered regularly. When you have planted the seed of love, you can make it grow only by watering it with love every day.

The tree of love will grow and yield the fruits of love. Often people today do not perform those acts which will promote love.

When you wish to develop love for the Lord, you must continually practice loving devotion to the Lord.

- Divine Discourse, Sep 2, 1991.

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

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why is equanimity an essential value and how does it help us in day to day life?

You must welcome both summer and winter, for they are both essential for the process of living. The alternation of seasons toughens and sweetens us.

Birth and death are both natural events. We cannot discover the reason for either birth or death. They simply happen. Hence we must learn to welcome the field of natural ups and downs (Prakrithika).

The second is the field of social equanimity: We often try to blame some person or some incident for the injury or loss we suffer but the real reason is our own karma (action).

When the background of the event is known, the impact can be lessened or even negated.

Hence you must welcome with equal-mindedness fame and blame, respect and ridicule, profit and loss, and such other responses and reactions from the society in which one has to grow and struggle.

- Divine Discourse, Sep 7, 1985.

Fortune is as much a challenge to one's equanimity as misfortune.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

We live by faith, not by what we see.

2 Corinthians 5:7

Source: Life Changing Words

[winston]

All of us pray very frequently. What kind of prayer do we offer?

The easiest means to achieve love for the Divine is to worship HIm as having a form.

Worship of the Divine is of three important types: Tamasic, Rajasic and Satvic.

In the Tamasic form of worship, the individual prays to the Divine but continues violence, anger and pomp, causing pain. Any worship that is done for the sake of name, fame, with pomp and ego is called the Tamasic worship.

Rajasic worship is done for the sake for fulfilling selfish interests and to attain great heights in one’s life. Devotion with the feeling that one alone should be safe, happy and should be blessed involves utter selfishness. Such a devotee does not even aspire or think about the well-being of the family or the society.

A Satvic devotee performs all daily tasks to please the Divine, with total surrender and offers all tasks performed during the day, as loving service to the Divine.

- My Dear Students, Vol 3, Ch 7, Jul 9 1989.

All work is the Divine’s; He inspires, He helps, He executes, He enjoys, He is pleased.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What are the different types of happiness?

Priyam, Modam and Pramodam are three types of happiness.

For example, when you recall your favourite fruit, you experience some happiness. When you spot the fruit in the market, you feel greater joy! (Modam). Finally, when you procure the fruit and relish it, it gives the greatest joy! (Pramodam).

Thus, Priyam is the pleasantness or happiness that arises due to the affection you have on a particular thing, person or object.

Modam is the happiness you experience when you come in contact with the things you like.

Pramodam is the ecstasy, the real happiness you exeprience when you actually enjoy the object of your liking.

Similarly, the thrill you experience by knowing the Divine’s powers – the manifestation of His Divinity and His love from scriptures and epics is called Priyam.

When you put into practice what you heard, you derive the happiness of Modam.

You experience Pramodam, the everlasting state of joy and bliss, when you are in Union with the Divine.

- My Dear Students, Vol 3, Ch 16, Jul 23, 1989

Realize that true happiness lies in union with the Divine.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What are the different types of happiness?

Priyam, Modam and Pramodam are three types of happiness.

For example, when you recall your favourite fruit, you experience some happiness. When you spot the fruit in the market, you feel greater joy! (Modam). Finally, when you procure the fruit and relish it, it gives the greatest joy! (Pramodam).

Thus, Priyam is the pleasantness or happiness that arises due to the affection you have on a particular thing, person or object.

Modam is the happiness you experience when you come in contact with the things you like.

Pramodam is the ecstasy, the real happiness you exeprience when you actually enjoy the object of your liking.

Similarly, the thrill you experience by knowing the Divine’s powers – the manifestation of His Divinity and His love from scriptures and epics is called Priyam.

When you put into practice what you heard, you derive the happiness of Modam.

You experience Pramodam, the everlasting state of joy and bliss, when you are in Union with the Divine.

- My Dear Students, Vol 3, Ch 16, Jul 23, 1989

Realize that true happiness lies in union with the Divine.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What has devotion got to do with serving those around us?

A devotee without the faculty of observation and discrimination, fails to ascertain what is real and unreal. They cause pain to others, though they have no intention of troubling others, as they lack the capability of understanding.

Such people and many others preach about devotion beyond attributes. Anyone who does not have the quality of being helpful to others, and is devoid of compassion and pity is said to be possessing demonic devotion.

Some other people lose the relationships with people who are near to them, thinking that the object that is dear to them is far away. Such devotees can be called as practicing devotion with hatred. Stay away from all of these practices.

The true aspirant is the one, who has love, compassion and concern for all, including those who are less privileged than themselves. They work with them and help them in a way in accordance to the status. Love is primordial in devotion.

- My Dear Students, Vol 3, Ch 7, Jul 9 1989.

To regard the universe as a manifestation of the Divine and to experience it as such is real devotion.

Source: radiosai.org