Life 47 (May 24 - Jan 25)

[winston]

What is the nature of a true Guru and how can we find one?

The present-day teachers are of two types.

There are those who claim to be exponents of the Scriptures but their main intent being catering to worldly desires. They conform to the whims of their disciples and in doing so they succeed in dispossessing them of their possessions. Such gurus are an unbearable burden upon the surface of the earth. They correspond to another meaning of the word ‘guru’, which means weight or burden.

The second type of gurus is those who can expound the sacred texts and help the disciples to discipline themselves to some extent. They impress upon their disciples that the guru himself is the Divine. This is how such teachers enhance their own stature in the eyes of their disciples.

There is a lot of difference between a teacher and a guru. A teacher transmits what he has learnt in return for a reward, whereas a guru, through his grace, enters your heart, broadens it and enables you to comprehend the aspects of Divinity. Such a being, in the form of a Guru, appears at an appropriate time.

- Summer Showers, Jun 20, 1973.

When the thirst for liberation and the revelation of one’s reality is acute, a strange and mysterious force in Nature will begin operating. The Guru will be alerted and the thirst will get quenched.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

How can we develop genuine detachment in life?

Analyse every object and discover the cheapness and hollowness of each. Then, genuine vairagya (detachment) will be planted in your heart.

So, utilise the priceless weapon, the perfect mirror, that the Divine has given you - the buddhi (intellect), for the journey to Him.

An old adage announces that ‘Buddhi is shaped by one's actions’. But this is not quite correct.

The mind prompts the senses for action. It has the buddhi on one side and the senses on the other and is drawn by both into action.

When the manas (mind) leans towards the senses, and activates them, bondage results; if it leans towards the intelligence (which is illuminated by the Atma), liberation results.

Sometimes, the buddhi is enticed by the fake delight that the mind revels in, through the senses.

Sadhana has to be used at this moment to turn it away from serfdom to the mind. It must be restored to its status of a regulator and controller of the vagaries of the mind.

- Divine Discourse, Sep 26, 1979.

He who masters the mind can direct his life straight and steadily on the path of Truth, Right Action, Peace and Universal Love.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

As we sit on the lap of Mother Earth, what are the profound lessons we must pay attention to?

Every man is a son of Bhudevi (Mother Earth). As a mother, Bhudevi is teaching many lessons to her children. She calls on her children to learn everything from herself instead of going after other preceptors.

"Scholars and intellectuals are cutting me to pieces to acquire knowledge and conduct their experiments," laments Mother Earth. "They are subjecting me to great suffering by their digging and blasting. But I am not worried about all this.

Learn this spirit of forbearance from me. Whatever abuse or attack others may level at you, bear them with fortitude. Treat praise or blame, good or bad with equanimity. This is the highest knowledge."

Another vital element in Nature is water, which is also one of the manifestations of the Divine. The lesson that water teaches is: "Son! By nature, I am pure, sweet and cool. Purity, patience and perseverance are three good qualities you have to cultivate."

Fire is another of Nature's preceptors. It tells man: “My son! I make no difference between good and bad. I do not gain by burning one thing or lose by not burning something. I treat all alike whatever comes into my orbit.

Learn to see the Divine in all things. This is the way to gain knowledge of the Self."

- Divine Discourse, Oct 08, 1997.

Nature is the best teacher for mankind to learn, the noble and sacred lesson of selfless sacrifice.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the continuous and consistent Sadhana (Spiritual Practice) we all must engage in?

This flower is beautiful; it gives an exciting, enchanting fragrance, declares the eye and the nose.

The wise man will not be content with the sense-impression. He resorts to the buddhi (intellect) and wants to discover - How long? How much? The answer is - until nightfall, till the new day dawns.

Therefore, he concludes that true beauty and true fragrance can be derived only from the Divine, not from created things and components, not from the moving and changing, the emerging and merging, the appearing, attracting and disappearing entities of the world.

Man is now riding two horses - the world and the Divine, the Universal and the Particular, the Absolute and the Relative, the Eternal and the Time-bound, the Reality and the Appearance.

He is therefore riding for a fall. Sadhana alone can help man to choose the right path and pursue it relentlessly.

Every religion in every era and clime emphasises the One and marks out the path to reach it. They warn us against too much attachment to the world, which is basically poisonous.

- Divine Discourse, Sep 26, 1979.

Any happiness experienced through the mind is not spiritual bliss. It is transient physical pleasure.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What are the prerequisites for obtaining wisdom?

If you want to light a lamp, you need four things.

First a container, second - oil, third - a wick and fourth - a matchbox. If any one of these is lacking, you cannot light the lamp. This lamp can, however, remove only the outside darkness.

How is the darkness in the heart to be removed? It can be removed only by the Light of Wisdom and by nothing else.

How is this Light of Wisdom, this spiritual light, to be lit?

This also needs four elements:-
1. Detachment is the container
2. Devotion is the oil
3. One-Pointed Concentration is the wick
4. Knowledge of the Supreme Truth is the match stick.

Without all the four, the Light of Spiritual Wisdom cannot be got.

Of the four, the primary requisite is the spirit of Renunciation. Without this detachment, all knowledge of scriptures is of no avail.

What is this detachment? It is the absence of attachment to the body.

The ego-feeling, which makes one think of the "I" all the time, should be given up.

- Divine Discourse, Nov 09, 1988.

Give up ego, conquer anger, limit desires and get rid of greed. These four checks are very important, especially for spiritual aspirants.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the one truth about the Divine we must always remember?

Every act in this world, the tiniest one, is happening as per the Divine Will.

A particular act of the Divine may bring you some inconvenience or sorrow. That is at your individual level. But in His creation, there is nothing like sorrow.

Whatever He does is for the welfare of humanity. Some people feel depressed and wail as to why the Divine gave them troubles and sorrows. But sorrows and difficulties, are our own making.

He does not differentiate or cause trouble to anyone. Sorrows and difficulties are only your feelings.

Everything in His creation is meant to provide happiness and convenience to the living beings. That is what I have been repeatedly emphasising.

Whether you are in sorrow or enjoying happiness, always think that everything is for your own good.

One has to develop a firm conviction that whatever He does, is for one's own good and not to trouble one.

Unable to realise this truth, man experiences all sorts of difficulties and sorrows. One has to strive to recognise the truth underlying His creation.

- Divine Discourse, Oct 17, 2004.

The best way to gain happiness is to choose the Divine as the leader and guide. Then, He will guide and guard, from within your heart.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the significance of detachment and what kind of detachment must we practice?

Peace is the best treasure without which power, authority, fame, fortune are all dry and burdensome.

There can be no happiness, without inner peace. To earn this peace and to be unshakably established in it, man must develop Abhyasa (steady practice) and Vairagyam (detachment).

Vairagyam does not imply renunciation of family ties and fleeing into the loneliness of the jungle. It means our giving up of the feeling that things are permanent and capable of yielding supreme joy.

The mind plays tricks with man and believes that some things are good and some bad, some eternal and some transitory.

You might have a plateful of nice eatables before you and they might appear to be delicious and fine; but, if the cook announces that a lizard had fallen into the cooker when it was on fire and has been boiled alive, all the fascination for the food disappears in a trice!

There is no object without fault or failing; there is no joy that is unmixed with pain; there is no act that is not tainted with egotism.

So be warned and develop the detachment which will save you from grief.

- Divine Discourse, Apr 20, 1975.

Discrimination and detachment are the first and the second steps that man has to take in order to reach the eternal Atmic truth.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the nature of true love and how must it manifest in our lives?

When you win the Love of the Divine, His compassion will flow unto you. Love gives and forgives. Ego gets and forgets.

When your son steals some money from the house, you do not hand him over to the police; but when your servant steals a spoon, you have no such qualms. For you have no love for the servant.

Live without hating others, condemning others and seeking faults in others.

"Doing good to others is the only meritorious act; doing evil is the most heinous sin."

When you feel you cannot do good, at least desist from doing evil. That itself is a meritorious service!

Do not try to discover differences; discover unity. Understand that the purpose of life is to know the Embodiment of Love, namely, the Divine through love and demonstrate through your own Love that you have known Him.

- Divine Discourse, Apr 04, 1975.

If you do not have faith in the light of love, your life will be filled with darkness.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the path shown that we all must strive to walk?

When you undertake any task with a sacred heart, you will certainly meet with success.

There is no trace of selfishness in whatever task undertaken. Whatever is done is for the benefit of humanity.

Many do not try to understand this and think that it is done with some expectation. But do not expect anything from anybody nor to get any benefit out of it.

Derive only one benefit, i.e., feel happy when everybody is happy. You should strictly adhere to the path and make everyone happy.

When you follow the footsteps, you will certainly achieve sacred results and attain good reputation.

Being devotees, you should give up selfishness and dedicate your lives for the welfare of society. Fill your lives with love. Stop criticising others. Offer your respects to even those who hate you.

Hatred is a mean quality. It will ruin you. Hence, do not give room for hatred. Cultivate love. Help the poor and needy to the extent possible.

- Divine Discourse, Apr 13, 2002.

Just as you can see the moon only with the light of the moon, He who is the Embodiment of Love, can be reached only through Love.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the permanent address of the Divine?

The direct address is only the heart of the devotee.

The Scriptures says: “The Divine dwells in the heart region of all beings." As He is omnipresent, He is equally present in the heart of everyone.

- Divine Discourse, Apr 14, 1989.

Poems and prayers do not attract the Divine as much as songs sung with devotion do.

Source: radiosai.org