Life 45 (Jan 23 - Aug 23)

[winston]

Why should we work on truly transforming ourselves?

In this world, it’s not possible to make use of anything without transforming it in one way or the other.

You cannot eat rice without converting paddy to rice grains and cooking it! Similarly, you cannot have cloth without transforming cotton into yarn and weaving it into cloth.

Likewise, human beings also need transformation in three things:-
The first is bodily transformation; the second pertains to the mind; and the third relates to the Atma!

The Atma (Divine Soul) is changeless. It is only the body and the mind that require transformation.

How does transformation take place? For instance, if we ask the question whether silver can become Divine or stone become Divine, the answer is 'Yes’.

When a sculptor converts a piece of rock into a beautiful idol to be worshipped in a shrine, what was inert and worthless becomes sacred! This is transformation.

Similarly, an idol made from silver becomes an object of worship. Thus, everything which is petty and worldly can be transformed in course of time into something sacred and divine. Such transformation is very necessary.

- Divine Discourse, Jul 14, 1984.

We do not need different kinds of 'information'. We need 'transformation'.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What can you and I do, to remove the fear and anxiety in the world today?

The world can be saved only by the power of the Atma (Inner-Self) inherent in everyone; this has to be tapped by individual sadhana and by the grace of the Divine, which can be won only through love, purity and service.

If these two are absent, devastation is certain; it is inevitable.

Love is the scarcest article today! There is no love in the home, between father and son, husband and wife, brother and brother.

You have to prove by your conduct and attitude that love, based on the realisation of the One Atma (Inner-Self) in all, can cure the problems of the world.

Living has become very artificial. Men are moving in blind fear, not knowing what might happen to them at the next step.

Prepare yourselves to be lamps to guide them aright. Be lamps of love. That contains all. Then, there is no need for japam (mantra meditation) or tapas (spiritual meditation).

Love and loving service of others (who are forms assumed by the Divine) will provide you the grace of the Divine. Therefore, resolve today to enshrine love in your heart, to cultivate it, make it Universal and free from selfish desire. Become Embodiments of love.

- Divine Discourse, Nov 20, 1970.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the approach we must have towards our work lives?

You must learn to become a new type of leaders, leaders who passed through the crucible of Seva (Service) as Sadhana (Spiritual Practice); leaders who have passed through school, college and mastered problems of present and future, in the light of the past; and leaders who appreciate traditions and culture.

This is the job for which you must prepare yourself. The Telugu word for job is Udyoga. Mark the word, Ud-yoga; 'ud' means upward, rising, emergent. So, it is progress in yoga that defines the nature and purpose of the job.

And, what is yoga? Yoga is control of agitations, anxieties and fear of the mind.

People in charge of administration are devising various controls, and conducting propaganda to popularise them. They have food control, gold control, birth control and other plans, but the most fundamental thing needed is - mind control; this is absent!

You may sit in an air-cooled room but if your mind is agitated by anger, envy, greed or fear, you will find the room pretty hot!

- Divine Discourse, Jul 23, 1970.

Consider your house work as the Divine’s work, your business as His work. All work is His work. It is a very easy path.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

All of us desire happiness and peace. How can we secure it?

One must give up desires that enslave and imprison, that bring sorrow.

Desires can be grouped under two heads:
1) Desire for an object or experience, that no one else has earned, and
2) Desire that the object or experience one has earned, should not be earned by anyone else!

Both these desires are indeed ridiculous. What is desired is as illusory as one's shadow!

The faster you run towards it, hoping to seize it, the farther it is from your reach!

When you pursue desire, it flees; when you scorn its hold, it submits like the shadow that follows you when you turn your back on it.

Desires are born of greed. When greed is weakened more and more, discontent declines in equal measure. And, when discontent disappears, delight is established.

- Divine Discourse, Nov 23, 1983.

When your desires go on increasing, your happiness goes on decreasing. As your love for the Divine increases, your happiness also increases.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the secret to lead a happy, peaceful and love-filled life?

However wealthy one may be, whatever position one may hold, however intelligent one may be, if one is arrogant, even his wife and children will not love him. The day he sheds egoistic pride, all will begin to love him.

If you desire to earn the love of the world, get rid of egoistic pride, Ahamkara - "I-am-the-doer." Only an egoless person deserves the world's love.

As long as one is filled with anger or hatred, one cannot be happy.

People undertake all kinds of Sadhana (Spiritual Practice) to get rid of grief or unhappiness. But whatever penance, recitation, sacrifice they do, they are unable to get rid of unhappiness.

The reason is they have not been able to get rid of their hatred!

By harbouring hatred, one renders one’s life miserable. "An angry man fails in all of his enterprises." Anger brings in its train all kinds of ill-fame. Haunted by infamy, he can have no happiness.

- Divine Discourse, Sep 23, 1997.

Humility is the hallmark of true education. Arrogance, envy and ostentation should have no place in a properly educated person.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What are the key obstacles for us to live in love and peace?

By conquering desire, you become unselfish. When you are overwhelmed with desires, you cannot be content.

You will lose control over senses when intoxicated with insatiable desires. No doubt one cannot avoid desires. But there should be a limit!

Limitless desires result in ruin. Prosperity will elude such a person.

The moment man is able to control his desires, all things will come to him of their own accord!

Conquer greed, you realise happiness. Greed is another cause of human misery.

Greed distances you from every kind of happiness - material, intellectual or spiritual! Greed is the cause for failure to live happily despite having so much wealth and power. Hence, banish greed from your hearts.

How is this to be done? When you foster the spirit of sacrifice, greed will vanish! With greed-filled hearts there is no room for joy.

You cannot fill a tumbler full of water with milk. First, empty the tumbler and then fill it with milk! Likewise, get rid of greed and fill your heart with sacrifice!

- Divine Discourse, Sep 23, 1997.

When you are overwhelmed with desire, you cannot have contentment.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What does it truly mean to practice the virtue of nonviolence?

Get rid of your evil qualities, wicked thoughts and bad intentions. Practise nonviolence (ahimsa).

What is the meaning of nonviolence? Ahimsa means not to hurt others by thoughts, words and deeds.

Never leave unity of thought, word and deed, even for a moment. Only when you observe unity of thought, word and deed, in all your endeavours, will divine feelings manifest in you.

The principle of nonviolence is very subtle. Most people do not understand its correct meaning. Even eating food more than necessary constitutes violence. Why? You hurt yourself by excessive eating.

Even unnecessary talking amounts to indulging in violence. Talk only to the extent necessary. That is nonviolence.

When you misuse the faculties given by the Divine, all your wealth, power and position, will become meaningless.

Since you are caught up in the mire of trivial worldly pursuits, you are unable to realise the infinite Atmic principle.

- Divine Discourse, Jul 29, 1996.

If you return harm for harm, how can you be called a good man? Only by returning good for evil, can you elevate yourself to a higher state.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

How can we use sense organs for a sacred purpose?

The first thing man has to learn is the role of the sense organs. The sense organs are termed matras, meaning measuring instruments.

For instance, the tongue measures the taste of what it eats. The eyes evaluate the form of what it sees. It will notice that a man with a fat face has a snub nose. The senses recognise the differences among various objects in terms of size, quality, etc.

The senses also have another function to discharge. They indicate to man the limits to which sensory objects should be used or enjoyed.

As the senses are Divine-given gifts, abuse of the senses by excesses, will not only mean transgressing the divinely ordained limits but will also lead to many harmful consequences.

Hence, everyone has to adhere to the appropriate limits prescribed for the use of the senses.

- Divine Discourse, Oct 06, 1997.

People yearn for joy but they accept as genuine, the counterfeit joy given by the senses. The Divine is the source of the highest joy.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is to be considered a gift of the Divine to each and every one of us and how should we benefit from it?

Man should realise that all pleasures derived from submission to the senses, are momentary and leave a trail of suffering behind.

He should realise that the senses are to be utilised for sacred purposes and for the practice of human values. Only then he will understand the true purpose of human existence.

The senses are gifted by the Divine for humans to lead ideal lives. See good, think good thoughts, speak sweet words and listen to what is good.

Be good and do good. The ancient Indian Sages practised silence as a spiritual discipline because they realised the myriad benefits derived from Mounam (silence).

A sage learnt a valuable lesson when he found that after ten days of endless talk, he had forgotten all the shlokas (verses) he had learnt by heart.

By practising complete silence for a fortnight he got back his memory powers. People should realise that His grace is secured by the sacred use of the senses endowed on man by the Divine.

- Divine Discourse, Oct 06, 1997.

Having attained such a rare and sacred birth of a human being, how foolish it is to say that you cannot control your senses!

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

We tend to pursue the world and what it offers, in the name of success. What is it that we all must truly aspire for?

You may have accumulated riches, acquired deep scholarship and achieved health and strength. But, unless you have gained a vision of the Supreme Sovereign and an aspiration to be ever in the ecstasy of that vision, all that has been garnered by you is mere lumber.

If the Divine is on your side, you have the world in your hold.

- Divine Discourse, Jul 08, 1968.

Train your mind to develop a taste for the good and the divine, not for money or material gains.

Source: radiosai.org