Life 46 (Aug 23 - May 24)

[winston]

What pollutes the intellect and clouds our true nature?

If people today indulge in meaningless and impure activities, it means that they are wasting their Divine gifts.

Before undertaking any action, one should utter the prayer:
"May my actions be holy. May my speech be helpful to others and not cause any pain to them. May all my thoughts be sacred, divine and purposeful."

The rulers and people in ancient days, used to sanctify their lives by such prayerful actions.

Two things are vital in a man's life: Satya (Truth) and Rita (Unity in thought, word and deed).

In most people today, this triple unity is absent. One reason for this is that people have allowed their intellect to be polluted, as in the case of a lamp in which the chimney is covered by soot from the flame inside and dust from outside.

The light from the lamp will be effulgent if the soot inside and the dust outside are removed.

In the case of the Buddhi (intellect), the soot comes from Ahamkara (ego) and the dust from Mamakara (mine-ness).

These two reduce the effulgence of the intellect. They have to be removed to make the Buddhi shed its light fully.

- Divine Discourse, Oct 05, 1992.

When the wind of love blows away the clouds of desire in the heart, the ego and possessiveness are driven out and the effulgence of the Atma (Inner-Self) within is revealed in all its glory.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

How should the senses be used and handled?

The senses should not be allowed to override man. They must be instruments within the control of man. They are mere servants, orderlies and helpers.

A knife is best used to cut fruits or vegetables; you should not use it for cutting your throat.

So too, your senses must be trained to be free from inertia and passion; they must be neither dull nor dragging, neither dormant nor dangerously diverting.

The Gunas must be overcome. Once a student approached a Guru and asked for the path to Peace. Guru replied that he must develop tolerance towards all men, all things and all events.

Nothing should arouse an interested reaction, disgust or desire. The highest alone must be sought; The Divine alone must be desired.

Prema, steady, unchanging, undiminishable, can only be Love towards the Divine of all the worlds. "Changing love" is love towards the changing world.

- Divine Discourse, Oct 23, 1966.

The one who has acquired the spiritual vision has all his senses, mind and intellect, under the control of the Atma (Inner-Self).

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the essence of leading a spiritual life?

Spirituality means destroying the animal nature in man and making him realise his divine consciousness.

Spirituality implies that one should not develop egoistic pride, on account of the divine potencies in man but utilise them for achieving spiritual strength.

Spirituality calls for recognition of the manifold capacities manifesting in man, as emanating from the Spirit and not from the mind.

It means developing faith that all powers come from the Divine.

Spirituality does not mean proceeding from the human to the Divine. It seeks to unfold the divinity in man.

Spirituality does not mean passing from the mundane to the Divine. Spirituality means making man manifest the divinity in him.

People today have the wrong impression that spirituality is concerned with the journey from the mundane world to the higher realm and vice versa.

Because of this mistaken view, students today are confused about spirituality and it appears meaningless to them.

Spirituality is the realisation of the role of the Spirit in daily life. It is a way of life.

- Divine Discourse, May 24, 1992.

Spirituality alone confers true vision, and makes man full and wholesome.


Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Be it rain or shine, highs or lows, what is the prayer we must sincerely offer, every day?

One should not enthuse over victory or droop over defeat, both are to be welcomed as tests of one's faith in the Divine.

This is a land where faith in Him is imbibed at the mother's bosom by every child for many millennia. So, it will never give way to despair and grief.

It will rely on the Divine within and discover inexhaustible reinforcements of courage within each heart.

The final victory is for those who have faith in the invincible Atman - The Reality.

Such men will have no hate in their hearts; they will only be sad that others are greedy and envious.

Noble men and women pray that their opponents too are granted wisdom, humility and love - "Oh Divine, please grant them discrimination, the power of cool and calm judgement."

Since ancient times, all sons and daughters have prayed: May all the denizens of all the worlds be happy.

- Divine Discourse, Sep 26, 1965.

Spirituality consists in filling the heart with love, dedicating all actions to the Divine and striving for the welfare of all.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the nature of the Divine’s love and why should we strive to experience it?

The Divine's love is unbounded. It knows no growth or diminution.

Worldly love is momentary and fickle. Divine love is unchanging and eternal.

The Divine is the embodiment of love. His infinite love is offered to all in equal measure.

Some may feel that they had experienced His love for a time and had been deprived of it later. This reflects only their own feelings and not the attitude of the Divine.

Nature is like a clean mirror which reflects your feelings and attitudes. It is your own actions and thoughts, whether good or bad, which are reflected back to you.

His love remains the same always. Pleasure and sorrow are not inherent in the nature of man. They are products of the mind.

Bliss is the true nature of man. But it can be realised only when the love of the Divine is experienced.

The sense of "my-ness" has to be totally eradicated. You must strive for the welfare of all. This is the message from times of yore.

Fill your hearts with this sacred feeling. Banish from your minds all thoughts of hatred and envy.

- Divine Discourse, Jul 18, 1989.

Make love the basic impulse for all your actions. Share your love with others. Be unselfish.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What should we sacrifice in the altar of the Divine and why?

The manner of living, in which delusion regarding the body is prevalent, is animal existence.

What is delusion regarding the body? It is the identification of the body with the Self (the "I").

This is the mark of animal nature in man.

The real meaning of animal sacrifice is the sacrifice of the animal nature in man. Everyone must get rid of egoism and sense of "mine".

Without sacrificing these animal tendencies, sacrificing dumb animals, is unworthy of human beings.

The Divine accepts the bad and gives good in return. The word “bali” is used with references to sacrifices in fire rituals.

What is the “bali” to be offered in sacrifices? It is offering one's bad qualities and bad thoughts to the Divine.

How can one offer bad things to the Divine? He alone can accept such offerings and give good things in return! No one else in the world will accept the bad and give what is good in return!

- Divine Discourse, May 24, 1992.

Causing harm to others is a sign of animality. Offer your bad qualities and bad thoughts to Him and He alone will give good things in return.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

[b]We all struggle with unwanted and unpleasant thoughts. What do we do at such times?

There is a soiled and tattered currency note with you. No one is prepared to accept it from you. But when it is tendered to the Reserve Bank, which issued it, it is bound to accept it and issue a new note in return.

Likewise, who is competent to accept one's bad thoughts, perverse feelings and evil intentions? Only the Divine can accept them.

He is the Spiritual Reserve Bank that will accept the soiled notes of your mind and give in return good currency (in the form of good thoughts). Hence, offerings should be made only to those who are competent to receive them.

All bad thoughts and feelings should be offered to Him so that we may receive, by His grace, good thoughts and feelings in return.

Spirituality, thus, means transforming one's life into an ideal one, by offering one's bad qualities to the Divine and receiving from Him, good qualities in return.

- Divine Discourse, May 24, 1992.

The real significance of good culture, lies in giving up bad thoughts and bad actions and cultivating sacred thoughts and performing noble deeds.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why is it important to give up self-interest?

Almost every activity of man, is motivated by self-interest. This concern for self-interest is opposed to the divinity immanent in man. Without realising this divinity, how can man achieve peace internally or in the world outside?

The individual, society and the world - all the three are inextricably inter-connected.

The individual's welfare is dependent on the state of the nation. Everyone should strive to develop their spiritual qualities and utilise them for promoting the interests of the community and the country.

Service to society should become the constant concern of the individual. There is no greater quality in man than selfless love, which expresses itself in service to others. Such love can be the source of real bliss.

The relationship between karma and karma-yoga should be properly understood. Ordinary karma (action) done with attachment or desires causes bondage. But desireless, selfless action becomes karma-yoga. Our life should become a yoga (Divine Communion) rather than a roga (disease).

- Divine Discourse, Apr 06, 1983.

To have the qualities and lead the life of a human being worth the name, one must develop pure, unselfish, unbounded love.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why is it important to cultivate detachment? What are the consequences of desires?

The tongue has oil, fat and greasy substances, rolling over it; but it is unaffected by these; it does not become greasy.

The mind too must be unaffected by the experiences of success and failure, of gain and loss, of well-being and illness; it must be surrendered at the Feet of the Divine.

Let His Will prevail. What profit does your little will bring you?

Just close your eyes for five minutes and think of the profit your efforts have won for you. One wish leads to another; one bond brings about ten others.

You marry; you get a daughter who has to be given in marriage; you struggle to finish your education; you toil to finish your son's education; he works hard to finish his son's. Thus, it goes on, like a never-ending chain.

“This one wish if fulfilled will be enough, I won't ask for anything more", you say; but I know you will come and ask for something else, which is the consequence of that wish.

It is in the very nature of human desire; for, the joy one gets through its satisfaction is imperfect, limited, temporary and pregnant, with grief.

- Divine Discourse, Mar 03, 1965.

By dwelling constantly on the Atma (Inner-Self) and its reality, attachment to the world will fall off.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why is it important to make our own heart a temple of His? What will be its outcome?

The ideal is to make your hearts, temples for the Divine to dwell. But this is not possible for everybody. Temples in stone are reminders of the existence of the Divine.

When you see a lawyer you are reminded of your legal troubles. When you see a doctor you think of your illness. Likewise, when you see a temple, you are reminded of the Divine.

Temples are useful only as reminders. But true worship, consists in heartfelt devotion to the Divine within each one.

Purifying this temple of your heart, you must dedicate your life to service.

- Divine Discourse, Apr 06, 1983.

Remember, the persons whom you serve are temples where He is installed. Worship them with the flowers of good words, timely help and vigilant care.

Source: radiosai.org