Life 41 (Oct 21 - Jan 22)

[winston]

Change Requires Action

Simply wishing for things to happen won’t make them happen.

Simply talking about the dharma or listening to dharma talks online won’t bring about an end to the effluents.

It’s a path of action.

— Peter Doobinin, “Sutta Study: The Ship”

[winston]

How should we overcome our petty differences and become pure, so that the Divine can be envisioned in all?

You must cultivate love towards everyone, however distinct the character and capacity of each may be.

Though the same blood flows through the entire body, the eye cannot smell, the ear cannot taste, and the nose cannot see; do not over-emphasise the distinctions and quarrel.

Emphasise the basic brotherhood and love.

As sugar that has dissolved in the cup of water is invisibl, but patent to the tongue in every drop, so too the Divine is invisible but immanent; capable of being experienced, in every individual, whether one is at the bottom or on top.

Do "repeated remembrance of the Divine"; taste the sweetness that is in the heart of everyone; dwell on His glory, and His compassion which those names summarise.

Then, it will be easier for you to visualise Him in all, to love Him in all, and to adore Him in all.

- Divine Discourse, Jul 31, 1967.

Find the Divine in your heart, see Him in everyone, and hold on to Him forever.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Finding the Still Point

Do not cling to or demand pleasure, calm, bliss, silence, or peace, for they may come and go.

Realizing such is true peace shining at the heart of all the world’s noise and calamity—the still point at the center of all coming and going.

— Jundo Cohen, “Four Steps You May Be Overlooking in Your Zazen Practice”

[winston]

What is most essential for progress and the establishment of morality in society?

What we need today are noble, high-minded men and women.

Nations will be prosperous only when there are such persons with noble minds and hearts.

Such persons will emerge in society only when there’s purity of mind and morality in society. Only a society with a moral foundation can foster such noble persons.

Spirituality is the means for redemption. Morality and integrity are based upon spiritual consciousness.

Spirituality alone will take man to the sacred path leading to his destiny.

Spirituality alone can elevate man and raise him to higher levels. It’s the means to real national progress and prosperity.

World peace can be secured only through spirituality. It‘s the means for the redemption of mankind.

Forgetting spirituality, man is leading an artificial life based on worldly pleasures.

Education should be used for promoting the nation's welfare. Knowledge gained through education should be used selflessly for promoting the welfare of humanity.

- Divine Discourse, Nov 22, 1992.

Whatever knowledge one may acquire, one should use it for the well-being of all.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Give Your Mind Relief

Let go of control and find refuge in the body’s immediate present sensory field.

When the mind relaxes its grip, the body models sustained attention.

The body leads the way. It’s a great relief for the mind, in fact.

— Willa Blythe Baker, “The Body Is Already Mindful”

[winston]

Why should we remain vigilant and not get deluded by the devotion one has or service one renders?

Everyone declares himself or herself as a sadhaka (spiritual aspirant). Every believer claims that he is seeking the Divine.

One must enquire whether it is the so-called devotee who’s seeking the Divine or whether it is the Divine who is searching for a true devotee.

Is the sadhaka serving Him or is the Divine serving the sadhaka?

The service that the sadhaka is doing is trivial. Offering to Him what He has provided is like offering to Ganga, water from Ganga!

The truth is, it is the Divine who is rendering service to devotees. All capabilities gifted by Him should be used in the service of the Divine.

There is no need to go in quest of the Divine. He is all the time searching for the genuine and steadfast devotee.

The sadhaka is approaching Him for the fulfilment of his desires. He is after petty and transient benefits. He does not seek to understand the nature of true love or the Divinity that underlies everything.

- Divine Discourse, Jan 13, 1984.

He is a true sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) who realises the Divinity present within him.
Those who search for it outside follow the wrong path.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

The Gift of Uncertainty

When we let ourselves hang out in the space of not-knowing, there is enormous potential and life could unfold in innumerable ways.

So, rather than avoid and fear this place of uncertainty, we can embrace it and all its gifts.

— Kaira Jewel Lingo, “Trusting the Unknown”

[winston]

Never Too Late to Forgive

Forgiveness releases us from the power of fear and allows us to see kindly with a wise heart. . . .

In any moment, we can learn to let go of hatred and fear and rest in peace and forgiveness—it’s never, ever too late.

—Gina Sharpe, “The Power of Forgiveness”

[winston]

Which is the most important phase of one’s life and what must we do to make the best use of it?

In one's life, the years sixteen to thirty are the most precious. This is the period when all of one's faculties and energies are at their peak. Hence one should strive to make the best use of this period.

Noble qualities like self-confidence, sacrifice, aspiration and courage must be acquired then.

If this time of one's life is wasted, there will only be failures in later years.

Bad thoughts, bad practices and backbiting, should be eschewed altogether.

During this crucial period, one should try to understand the purpose of life and concentrate one's efforts on achieving one's ideals.

No spiritual effort is possible when one has dissipated one's physical and mental abilities.

It is a pity that young people misuse these precious years of their lives by falling into bad ways.

- Divine Discourse, Jan 13, 1984.

Young people should enthrone sacrifice in their hearts, wear the crown of justice
on their heads and carry the sword of Truth in their hands. These are the
weapons needed to defend the nation.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Adjusting Your Rudder

I liken the process of transforming habits to turning a cargo ship at sea.

A large vessel with that much momentum can’t make sharp turns.

However, a one- or two-degree course correction of the rudder, if held steady, will take that ship in a very different direction over time.

— Oren Jay Sofer, “Turning a Ship”