Life 45 (Jan 23 - Aug 23)

[winston]

What should we do to hold on to the Divine reality within?

An able monarch will have his ministers under control; he will direct them along proper lines and maintain the peace and security of the kingdom.

On the other hand, a monarch who allows himself to be controlled by the ministers does not deserve the throne; he is spurned and disgraced. His kingdom has no peace and security.

The mind is the monarch in man; the senses are the ministers. The mind has become the slave of its servants and so, the realm has no peace.

Every spiritual aspirant who aspires to achieve the expression and expansion of the Divine in him, has therefore to earn mastery over the senses. That is the first step.

The next one is the conquest of the mind, its elimination.

The third is uprooting the vasanas (innate tendencies), and the fourth, the attainment of Jnana (spiritual wisdom).

The branches are the senses, the trunk is the mind and the roots are the innate tendencies. All three have to be overcome and destroyed so that the awareness of the Atmic Reality can be gained.

- Divine Discourse, May 06, 1983.

Tension is caused as a result of your mind indulging in likes and dislikes.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why should religious bigotry be eschewed altogether?

Persons unaware of the Omnipresence of the Divine, develop antagonisms among themselves based on religion, caste and race.

All religions have accepted the timelessness and the Omnipresence of the Divine. So, it is strange that even those who accept this truth, display such narrowness of mind.

For, hatred between people professing different religions, leads ultimately to the destruction of faith in religion itself.

Those who are bent upon destroying religion must be utterly empty-headed. What has to be destroyed is religious bigotry, not religion itself.

To despise other people's religion out of love for one's own religion, is like demonstrating one's love for one's mother by denigrating the mothers of others.

One should realise that other people have the same regard and devotion for their faiths, as one has for one's own religion.

Youngsters of today should, while cultivating attachment to their own religion, respect the beliefs and practices of all others.

- Divine Discourse, Jul 24, 1983.

The nation is like a veena (stringed instrument), and different religions are like strings. Only when there is unity and harmony between various religions can there be peace and harmony in the country.

Source: radiosai.org
Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the hierarchy of the senses, the mind, the intellect and so on and why is it important to understand this?

The urge in the mind that animates the senses, is stronger than the sense organs themselves.

The eyes are merely instruments for seeing but seeing itself is a power that’s superior to them. Similarly, hearing power is higher than the mere ear.

The mind is superior to the sense organs and superior to the mind is the intellect (Buddhi), the power of discrimination.

Above the intellect is the animating Life Principle (Jivatma). Above the Jivatma or the individual soul is the Supreme Soul (Paramatma).

Between the individual and the Divine, there is an attractive deluding veil, maya (illusory power). When this veil falls, the individualised Self and Universal Omni-self, become One.

When the mind turns away from the senses to the Intellect for enlightenment, Divine Bliss starts to flow and the glory of the Divine Soul is revealed.

Intellect promotes the search inward. While sense organs all open towards external objects, true Sadhana (Spiritual Practice) consists in turning the vision inwards and swimming against the on-rushing current!

People seldom realise how near the goal of self-realization is, once the sense organs are turned inwards!

- Divine Discourse, Jul 24, 1983.

The body, the senses, the mind and the intellect are all your instruments. You are their master.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the purpose of this human birth?

The robber, waylaid travellers and pilgrims and robbed them of their belongings.

When some sages, whom he attacked reacted with loving kindness, warned him and revealed to him the sacred path of devotion and dedication, he gave up his cruel profession and plunged into severe spiritual exercises, which transformed him into a great poet-saint.

There is the example of the highway robber who collected the fingers of those whom he robbed and strung them into a garland around his neck. He was so proud of this horrid achievement.

But, when he encountered the Buddha and listened to His compassionate counsel, his mind was cleansed and he became a faithful follower of Buddha.

Man can be educated or nurtured into higher levels of consciousness. The scriptures offer the means of purifying the mind.

Other living beings have no such help or encouragement offered to them; they have to plod on as of old. This is the reason why life as a human being is a unique gift.

- Divine Discourse, Aug 31, 1983.

Having been born as human beings, you should overcome maya (Illusion), have the vision of the Atma (Inner-Self) and attain Nirvana. This is the purpose of your life.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

“Life is like a piano. What you get out of it depends on how you play it.”

- TOM LEHRER

[winston]

No Thing to See

When the mind recognizes itself, there is no thing to see there.

It’s just wide open.

- Tsoknyi, “Dissolving the Confusion”

[winston]

Let Your Body Lead Your Mind

When you notice yourself leaning into the future, tensing up, trying to predict what will happen, straining to figure out what to do, whether on your own or with others, see if you can actually physically rest back….

This can support your mind to rest back, release and let be.

- Kaira Jewel Lingo, “Trusting the Unknown”

[winston]

Why is practising silence everyday, very essential for every aspirant?

Always enjoy the peace that is the result of the stoppage of all mental agitations. Do not allow the mind to run after this and that.

Train it to keep quiet. Keep away and afar the mental reactions caused by contact with the external world. Then, you can become the very Being (Sat).

That is the state of the sage or the state beyond the realm of the senses, where their decree does not run. That is the real self-realisation that is the goal of life.

“Practice silence” it is said. But what is silence? Not simply keeping the mouth shut. It means getting beyond the influence of all the senses and getting established always in the consciousness of one’s own reality.

Perpetual bliss is also perpetual peace. When the mind withdraws from the external world, the tongue also becomes silent; all senses follow suit - that is genuine silence!

- Prasanthi Vahini, Ch 24.

Practise silence. That will save you from squabbles, idle thoughts and factions.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

As we pursue ambitions and happiness in this world, what are some of the important points to keep in mind?

There are useful examples of the calamity that awaits those who pursue the ideals of artha and kama, (wealth and desire), without the regulating influence of dharma and moksha (right conduct and liberation).

Those who are drunk with power, greed and pride, had insatiable desire. Thus, they suffered untold misery and were destroyed.

Rituals must result in righteousness; otherwise, it is only rigmarole.

- Divine Discourse, Aug 15, 1964.

Desires are born of greed. When greed is weakened more and more, discontent also declines in equal measure.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Who is a good friend and who’s not? Why should we carefully discriminate and choose?

Iron gets rusted in the company of dust and as a result, it loses its strength. But its strength is restored when it is put in fire.

First of all, you have to remove the dust from your mind. What is the dust? Dust is bad feelings that arise in one from bad company.

It is only because of bad company that you get bad thoughts. Therefore, it is said, ‘Tell me your company and I shall tell you what you are’.

Take time and enquire but seek only the company of good people. When you are in a good position, everybody will come to you, calling you a good boy. But when you suffer a downfall, everybody will run away from you without even saying goodbye. This is not true friendship.

What is true friendship? A true friend is one who follows you like a shadow even in times of difficulties and suffering.

- Divine Discourse, Jul 23, 1996.

When you throw a stone of a good or bad thought in the lake of your mind, its effect will spread to all the limbs of your body.

Source: radiosai.org