What should be the goal of any worship or ritual?
People resort to vows and rites, hoping to ward off the evil that stars may bring about! But no effort is made to win the grace of the Divine.
Let the pomp and the paraphernalia of worship not be merely superficial, if they are, they will not confer lasting benefits; at best, they prevent you from using that much of time and money in harmful ways! It is the 'why' of these rites that matters, not so much the 'how’.
The ‘why’ has to be the realisation of the reality of the individual, which is also the reality of the Universal! So be devoted to the Universal; be eager to become ‘That’.
When you pray to the Divine for a job, or a son, or a prize, you are devoted, not to the Divine, but to the job, to the son or to the prize.
Pray to the Divine for Divinity; love, because it is your nature to love. Expand your Self, take in all! Grow in Love.
- Bhagavatha Vahini, Ch 1, 'The Bhagavatha'.
If you earn the grace of the Divine, even mountains of sin can be reduced to dust.
Source: radiosai.org
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Life 23 (Jul 14 - Jan 15)
Re: Life 23 (Jul 14 - Feb 15)
by winston » Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:05 am
It's all about "how much you made when you were right" & "how little you lost when you were wrong"
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winston - Billionaire Boss
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Re: Life 23 (Jul 14 - Feb 15)
by winston » Mon Jan 05, 2015 6:13 am
What is the true meaning of surrendering the fruits of our actions to the Divine?
For every being, life is a series of acceptances and rejections, of joy and grief, benefits and losses.
Take everything that happens to you as gifts of grace. \Of course, you must act with all the skill and devotion you are capable of. And you must do your duties with as much sincerity as you worship the Divine. Then, leave the result to the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-merciful Lord.
Why do you hold yourself responsible for the results? He prompted it, He got it done through you; He will give whatever result He feels He must!
Can you store gold in a gold box? No! You store it in a steel or iron safe, isn’t it? So too, understand that the gift of joy comes packed in the rind of grief.
Do not pray to the Divine to give you only joy; that will be foolish. Pray for the fortitude to realise that grief and joy are but two sides of the same coin.
- Divine Discourse, Mar 27, 1971.
You too must subject yourself to the hammer of discipline and the chisel of pain-pleasure, so that you become Divine.
Source: radiosai.org
For every being, life is a series of acceptances and rejections, of joy and grief, benefits and losses.
Take everything that happens to you as gifts of grace. \Of course, you must act with all the skill and devotion you are capable of. And you must do your duties with as much sincerity as you worship the Divine. Then, leave the result to the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-merciful Lord.
Why do you hold yourself responsible for the results? He prompted it, He got it done through you; He will give whatever result He feels He must!
Can you store gold in a gold box? No! You store it in a steel or iron safe, isn’t it? So too, understand that the gift of joy comes packed in the rind of grief.
Do not pray to the Divine to give you only joy; that will be foolish. Pray for the fortitude to realise that grief and joy are but two sides of the same coin.
- Divine Discourse, Mar 27, 1971.
You too must subject yourself to the hammer of discipline and the chisel of pain-pleasure, so that you become Divine.
Source: radiosai.org
It's all about "how much you made when you were right" & "how little you lost when you were wrong"
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winston - Billionaire Boss
- Posts: 112011
- Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 9:28 am
Re: Life 23 (Jul 14 - Feb 15)
by winston » Tue Jan 06, 2015 6:57 am
What should we do to realise the Divine within ourselves?
In ancient times, sages who performed severe penance to realise the Ultimate Reality, experienced Him and declared that the Supreme Lord is beyond Tamas. This means, to experience the Lord we must get rid of our Tamo-guna (the darkness of ignorance).
The Lord is beyond the veil of Tamas. When the veil is removed, the Lord can be seen. If one is filled with Tamo-guna from head to foot, how can they experience Him?
You have a mountain of desires in your heart; you offer a petty coconut to the Lord! Is this love? Is this devotion? No! It is not the way to pray to the Lord.
To seek a favour is not prayer at all. On the contrary, the person filled with selfless love will accomplish anything in life, and is ever ready to make any sacrifice.
You are Divine. Get rid of your body consciousness, and you will realise your Divinity. Develop the qualities of love and sacrifice.
- Divine Discourse, 1 Jun 1970.
You too must subject yourself to the hammer of discipline and the chisel of pain-pleasure, so that you become Divine.
Source: radiosai.org
In ancient times, sages who performed severe penance to realise the Ultimate Reality, experienced Him and declared that the Supreme Lord is beyond Tamas. This means, to experience the Lord we must get rid of our Tamo-guna (the darkness of ignorance).
The Lord is beyond the veil of Tamas. When the veil is removed, the Lord can be seen. If one is filled with Tamo-guna from head to foot, how can they experience Him?
You have a mountain of desires in your heart; you offer a petty coconut to the Lord! Is this love? Is this devotion? No! It is not the way to pray to the Lord.
To seek a favour is not prayer at all. On the contrary, the person filled with selfless love will accomplish anything in life, and is ever ready to make any sacrifice.
You are Divine. Get rid of your body consciousness, and you will realise your Divinity. Develop the qualities of love and sacrifice.
- Divine Discourse, 1 Jun 1970.
You too must subject yourself to the hammer of discipline and the chisel of pain-pleasure, so that you become Divine.
Source: radiosai.org
It's all about "how much you made when you were right" & "how little you lost when you were wrong"
-
winston - Billionaire Boss
- Posts: 112011
- Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 9:28 am
Re: Life 23 (Jul 14 - Feb 15)
by winston » Wed Jan 07, 2015 6:01 am
Why should we act conscientiously and in a righteous manner at all times?
Embodiments of Divine Love! The Lord pervades everything in the cosmos with His myriad feet, hands, eyes, faces and ears. But not recognizing this fact, people imagine themselves to be the doer and indulge in all kinds of speculation and self-praise.
The Lord sees everything. No one can conceal anything from Him. He dwells within and outside every living being. Hence nothing can be hidden from Him.
The Divine is present in all beings in one and the same form. Although living beings vary in appearance from each other, His presence is consistent.
The Sun shines over the water in the lake, in a well, in a vessel, in a river or over the ocean - it is reflected in many ways but the Sun is one. So too, the Divine is one and the same in all beings. There is no one in the world nearer to you than the Divine.
- Divine Discourse, Jan 14, 1991.
The Divine alone is your true selfless friend and benefactor.
Source: radiosai.org
Embodiments of Divine Love! The Lord pervades everything in the cosmos with His myriad feet, hands, eyes, faces and ears. But not recognizing this fact, people imagine themselves to be the doer and indulge in all kinds of speculation and self-praise.
The Lord sees everything. No one can conceal anything from Him. He dwells within and outside every living being. Hence nothing can be hidden from Him.
The Divine is present in all beings in one and the same form. Although living beings vary in appearance from each other, His presence is consistent.
The Sun shines over the water in the lake, in a well, in a vessel, in a river or over the ocean - it is reflected in many ways but the Sun is one. So too, the Divine is one and the same in all beings. There is no one in the world nearer to you than the Divine.
- Divine Discourse, Jan 14, 1991.
The Divine alone is your true selfless friend and benefactor.
Source: radiosai.org
It's all about "how much you made when you were right" & "how little you lost when you were wrong"
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winston - Billionaire Boss
- Posts: 112011
- Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 9:28 am
Re: Life 23 (Jul 14 - Feb 15)
by winston » Thu Jan 08, 2015 5:20 am
What is the nature of our mind? How should we fine tune it to accomplish spiritual progress?
Your mind can cause bondage; it can also confer liberation. It is an amalgam of the passionate (rajasic) and ignorant (thamasic) attitudes.
It is easily polluted. It relishes in hiding the real nature of things and casting on them the forms and values that it desires. Hence the activities of the mind must be regulated.
The mind has two characteristics.
First, it runs helplessly after the senses. Whichever sense the mind follows, it is inviting disaster. When a pot of water becomes empty, we need not infer that it has leaked away through ten holes; one hole is enough to empty it. So too, even if one sense is not under control, you will be thrown into bondage. Hence master all senses.
Second, the potency of the mind can be promoted by good practices like meditation, repetition of the name, devotional singing, and worship. With the strength and skill thus reinforced, the mind can be tuned to help spiritual progress.
- Sutra Vahini, Ch 1.
Bend the body, mend the senses and end the mind - this should be your endeavor.
Source: radioai.org
Your mind can cause bondage; it can also confer liberation. It is an amalgam of the passionate (rajasic) and ignorant (thamasic) attitudes.
It is easily polluted. It relishes in hiding the real nature of things and casting on them the forms and values that it desires. Hence the activities of the mind must be regulated.
The mind has two characteristics.
First, it runs helplessly after the senses. Whichever sense the mind follows, it is inviting disaster. When a pot of water becomes empty, we need not infer that it has leaked away through ten holes; one hole is enough to empty it. So too, even if one sense is not under control, you will be thrown into bondage. Hence master all senses.
Second, the potency of the mind can be promoted by good practices like meditation, repetition of the name, devotional singing, and worship. With the strength and skill thus reinforced, the mind can be tuned to help spiritual progress.
- Sutra Vahini, Ch 1.
Bend the body, mend the senses and end the mind - this should be your endeavor.
Source: radioai.org
It's all about "how much you made when you were right" & "how little you lost when you were wrong"
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winston - Billionaire Boss
- Posts: 112011
- Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 9:28 am
Re: Life 23 (Jul 14 - Feb 15)
by winston » Sat Jan 10, 2015 6:40 am
How and why should we control our mind?
People have three chief instruments for uplifting themselves: Intelligence, Mind, and Senses.[/b]
When the mind gets enslaved by the senses, you get entangled and bound.
The same mind, when regulated by the intellect, can make one aware of one’s reality (Atma).
The mental power gained from spiritual practice must be directed to turn the mind away from wrong paths.
Direct your senses using the principle of intelligence (buddhi), and release them from the hold that the mind has on them.
The mind (manas) is a bundle of thoughts, a complex of wants and wishes. As soon as a thought, desire or wish raises its head from the mind, the intellect (buddhi) must probe its value and validity — is it good or bad, will it help or hinder, where will it lead or end.
If the mind does not submit to this probe, it will land itself in deep trouble. If the mind obeys your intelligence, your spiritual progress will be accelerated.
- Sutra Vahini, Ch 1.
Assign to your mind the task of serving the Lord and you can easily tame it.
Source: radiosai.org
People have three chief instruments for uplifting themselves: Intelligence, Mind, and Senses.[/b]
When the mind gets enslaved by the senses, you get entangled and bound.
The same mind, when regulated by the intellect, can make one aware of one’s reality (Atma).
The mental power gained from spiritual practice must be directed to turn the mind away from wrong paths.
Direct your senses using the principle of intelligence (buddhi), and release them from the hold that the mind has on them.
The mind (manas) is a bundle of thoughts, a complex of wants and wishes. As soon as a thought, desire or wish raises its head from the mind, the intellect (buddhi) must probe its value and validity — is it good or bad, will it help or hinder, where will it lead or end.
If the mind does not submit to this probe, it will land itself in deep trouble. If the mind obeys your intelligence, your spiritual progress will be accelerated.
- Sutra Vahini, Ch 1.
Assign to your mind the task of serving the Lord and you can easily tame it.
Source: radiosai.org
It's all about "how much you made when you were right" & "how little you lost when you were wrong"
-
winston - Billionaire Boss
- Posts: 112011
- Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 9:28 am
Re: Life 23 (Jul 14 - Feb 15)
by winston » Sun Jan 11, 2015 7:17 am
Why are sports and games important in our daily lives?
It must be recognised that sports and music have been designed to confer health and happiness on man. Physical fitness and mental health are equally important.
Together with the gross physical body, everyone has a subtle body (sukshma sarira). Take good care of your subtle body by performing spiritual exercises which will help you to realize the Divine.
True education consists in the acquisition of good qualities, cultivation of good thoughts, truthfulness, devotion, discipline and dedication to duty.
Sports and games enable you to acquire these qualities, and they impart a healthy body, mind and joy.
Three unique benefits can be derived from sports and games: team spirit, mutual understanding and joy. Even if people speak different languages and differ in their habits and cultures, through the field of sports you can easily build a common bond, and share a spirit of camaraderie.
Hence sports and games should be encouraged.
- Divine Discourse, 14-Jan-1991
Life is a challenge, meet it; Life is a game, play it; Life is love, enjoy it!
Source: radiosai.org
It must be recognised that sports and music have been designed to confer health and happiness on man. Physical fitness and mental health are equally important.
Together with the gross physical body, everyone has a subtle body (sukshma sarira). Take good care of your subtle body by performing spiritual exercises which will help you to realize the Divine.
True education consists in the acquisition of good qualities, cultivation of good thoughts, truthfulness, devotion, discipline and dedication to duty.
Sports and games enable you to acquire these qualities, and they impart a healthy body, mind and joy.
Three unique benefits can be derived from sports and games: team spirit, mutual understanding and joy. Even if people speak different languages and differ in their habits and cultures, through the field of sports you can easily build a common bond, and share a spirit of camaraderie.
Hence sports and games should be encouraged.
- Divine Discourse, 14-Jan-1991
Life is a challenge, meet it; Life is a game, play it; Life is love, enjoy it!
Source: radiosai.org
It's all about "how much you made when you were right" & "how little you lost when you were wrong"
-
winston - Billionaire Boss
- Posts: 112011
- Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 9:28 am
Re: Life 23 (Jul 14 - Feb 15)
by winston » Mon Jan 12, 2015 7:07 am
How can we attain stability and peace in our daily lives, despite the turmoil of worldly experiences we encounter?
Avoid spending precious time in useless pursuits and be ever vigilant. Engage the senses of perception and action, and the body in congenial but noble tasks to keep them busy. There should be no chance for sloth (tamas) to creep in. And, every act must promote the good of others.
While confining oneself to activities that reflect one's natural duties (swa-dharma), it is possible to sublimate them into spiritual practices for the body and the senses.
You must also withdraw from sensory objects. This implies having a state of mind that is beyond all dualities that agitate and affect, such as joy and grief, liking and disliking, good and bad, praise and blame.
Such common experiences one encounters can be overcome or negated by means of spiritual exercises or intellectual inquiry.
Endeavour to escape from the opposites and dualities, and attain balance and stability.
- Sutra Vahini, Ch 1.
You too must subject yourself to the hammer of discipline and the chisel of pain-pleasure, so that you become Divine
Source: radiosai.org
Avoid spending precious time in useless pursuits and be ever vigilant. Engage the senses of perception and action, and the body in congenial but noble tasks to keep them busy. There should be no chance for sloth (tamas) to creep in. And, every act must promote the good of others.
While confining oneself to activities that reflect one's natural duties (swa-dharma), it is possible to sublimate them into spiritual practices for the body and the senses.
You must also withdraw from sensory objects. This implies having a state of mind that is beyond all dualities that agitate and affect, such as joy and grief, liking and disliking, good and bad, praise and blame.
Such common experiences one encounters can be overcome or negated by means of spiritual exercises or intellectual inquiry.
Endeavour to escape from the opposites and dualities, and attain balance and stability.
- Sutra Vahini, Ch 1.
You too must subject yourself to the hammer of discipline and the chisel of pain-pleasure, so that you become Divine
Source: radiosai.org
It's all about "how much you made when you were right" & "how little you lost when you were wrong"
-
winston - Billionaire Boss
- Posts: 112011
- Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 9:28 am
Re: Life 23 (Jul 14 - Feb 15)
by winston » Thu Jan 15, 2015 7:39 am
Sorrow may hide behind laughter, and happiness may end in sorrow.
You harvest what you plant, whether good or bad.
Proverbs 14:13-14
Source: Life Changing Words
You harvest what you plant, whether good or bad.
Proverbs 14:13-14
Source: Life Changing Words
It's all about "how much you made when you were right" & "how little you lost when you were wrong"
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winston - Billionaire Boss
- Posts: 112011
- Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 9:28 am
Re: Life 23 (Jul 14 - Feb 15)
by winston » Thu Jan 15, 2015 9:26 pm
"Wake up with a smile and go after life... live it, enjoy it, taste it, smell it, feel it."
- Joe Knapp
- Joe Knapp
It's all about "how much you made when you were right" & "how little you lost when you were wrong"
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winston - Billionaire Boss
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