Life 41 (Oct 21 - Jan 22)

[winston]

Lift the Weapon of Compassion

Fear thrives in the absence of mutual understanding and diversity and it is a poisonous weapon.

But there is an antidote: compassion. Compassion combats fear.

— Gyalwang Drukpa, “How to Combat Fear”

[winston]

What is it that we must offer with love, so that we may earn the Divine’s love in return?

Abou Ben Adhem always offered the flower of compassion to all beings, to the Divine.

Every day he used to go around the streets to serve the destitute, handicapped and return home late in the night.

One night when he returned home, he found in his bedroom, an angel writing something. When he asked her what she was writing, she replied that she was making a list of those who loved the Divine.

When he asked her if his name was there on that list, she replied in negative.

The following night, when he returned home, he again found the angel writing something. He queried, "Mother, what are you writing now?".

She said, "Son, I am writing the names of those who are dear to the Divine." He wanted to know if his name figured in the list. She replied that his name was on the top of this list!

The sum and substance of this story is, the Divine is pleased when you serve your fellow human beings!

- Divine Discourse, Aug 22, 2000.

There is nothing on earth or beyond it that is equal to Divine Love. To make all endeavours to earn that love is the whole purpose and meaning of human existence.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Lightening Up

One of the best ways to overcome a defilement is to be able to laugh at it.

To be able to laugh at your own foibles, gives you some distance from them.

— Interview with Thanissaro Bhikkhu by Matthew Gindin, “(En)lighten Up! Uncovering the Buddha’s Wit”

[winston]

What should we renounce if we aspire to realise the Divine at the earliest?

However much you may avoid action, isn’t it necessary at least to engage yourself in the remembrance of the Divine, in meditation or repetition of the Name?

That too is action! If these are given up, there’s no joy in life.

Everyone must do some activity, whatever the form! One who engages in the yoga of action, renouncing all fruits of action and following the discipline of silence, can realise Brahman within a short time.

Action will not stick to such. Action for such a person is akin to breathing. Life is impossible without the activity of breathing; so too, for aspirants, work is essential.

Unrest comes only when fruits of action are desired. If the fruit is disregarded and joy is derived from the very action itself, then one gets peace.

No one thinks of the results and benefits of action of breathing, do they? So too, when work is done, never worry about its result; that gives real peace!

- Divine Prasanthi Vahini, Ch 21.

Renunciation devoid of the discipline of activity (karma-yoga) will lead to grief.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Finding “You,” Now

Any story you have about yourself, is not the same as the unfolding reality of what you are: the ongoing life of your senses, the tenderness of your heart, the consciousness that right now is seeing or hearing these words.

— Tara Brach, “A True Taste of Peace”

[winston]

As we face trials and tribulations in life, what opportunity in devotion, does that offer us?

The fifth is the flower of Shanti (peace).

One should remain peaceful through all the vicissitudes of life. Only then, can one attain divine grace.

Great devotees underwent many hardships. They bore all sufferings with patience.

"One cannot attain happiness without inner peace." Man needs peace at the physical, mental and spiritual levels.

Peace is not present in the external world. It is present within.

You are the embodiment of peace. In worldly life, there are bound to be many hardships, but one should not be perturbed.

One should bear all sufferings with fortitude and patience.

Human life is given not merely to enjoy worldly pleasures like birds and beasts. Life becomes meaningful only when one experiences the peace that originates from the heart.

- Divine Discourse, Aug 22, 2000.

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

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Authentic Love

The task of authentic love demands nothing less than absolute, unconditional self-surrender.

— C. W. Huntington, Jr., “Seeing Things as They Are”

[winston]

We acquire wealth hoping it will buy us all that we need. But what is the true wealth we must acquire, which alone can buy us lasting happiness?

Everyone should treat whatever happens to him as a gift from the Divine. Pleasure and pain should be treated alike as Divine gifts.

There is a unique joy in this process. In daily life, we tend to treat defeat, loss or grief as calamities. But, nothing occurs in the world without a cause.

Hunger is the cause for eating. Thirst is the cause for drinking. Difficulties are the cause of sorrow.

If man is to enjoy enduring happiness, he must discover the source of such happiness. That source is love (prema).

There is nothing greater than love in this world. Everything has a price.

The price to be paid for enduring happiness is Divine Love. Without Love, no object can give you real happiness.

Hence, the primary wealth for man is Love. Everyone should seek to acquire this wealth. With this wealth, anyone can enjoy enduring bliss.

- Divine Discourse, Jan 01, 1998.

It must be realised that man is the architect of his own pleasure and pain. Hence face
life with equanimity whatever happens to him – good or evil.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Plant the Right Seeds

The effects of our actions extend through space and time like ripples on a pond, influencing not only our future selves but also our surroundings.

If we wish to be a certain kind of person and live in a certain kind of world, we need to be heedful about the seeds we cultivate.

—Seth Zuiho Segall, “A More Enlightened Way of Being”

[winston]

Plant the Right Seeds

The effects of our actions extend through space and time like ripples on a pond, influencing not only our future selves but also our surroundings.

If we wish to be a certain kind of person and live in a certain kind of world, we need to be heedful about the seeds we cultivate.

—Seth Zuiho Segall, “A More Enlightened Way of Being”