Life 48 (Feb 25 - Dec 26)

[winston]

What are the two maladies of the mind we must be wary of?

Everyone seeks to know what benefit one can derive from other individuals or from society. No one asks what good or benefit society derives from them.

Start with rendering service to society. Today, due to the influence of the Kali Age, two kinds of diseases are seen.

One is the insatiable thirst for wealth. In every city, there is a mad rush for making money. Everyone is caught up in this craze for money.

No doubt money is necessary, but only up to a limit to meet one’s needs. Owing to excessive desire, people lose all sense of proportion. Men turn into demons in the pursuit of wealth.

It may be asked whether they at least make good use of their immense wealth. No, ultimately, the money may fall in the hands of robbers or others.

What you get from society, give it back to society. That is the primary value to be cherished by everyone.

The second malady is the thirst for power. The thirst for power and position is unquenchable.

- Divine Discourse, Apr 07, 1997.

When money earned by honest means does not always confer happiness, how can you get happiness through money earned by dishonest means?

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why is it important to serve society and consider that as our worship to Him?

You should feel honoured to call yourself a servant of the Divine and humanity.

If you start serving with the attitude that service to man, is service to Him, you will find Him there.

You cannot experience the same in japa or dhyana. You must “shut your mind and open your heart,” which happens while doing seva.

Some may ask, “While you are Divine, why worship Him?”

Even to realise you are divine, you must do certain things as part of your duty.

According to tradition, you must do things to please Him or in other words, transform work into worship.

When you practise this, it becomes easier to realise the Divine.

- Divine Discourse, July 19, 1997.

You can save yourselves from the clutches of ego when you perform service to society.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the kind of Yoga that must be practised, and what is the end result we must aspire for?

It is really surprising that anyone should train people in concentration, for without concentration, no task can be accomplished by man.

To drive a car, shape a pot on a wheel, weave a design, and weed a plot of land - all these jobs require single-minded attention.

To walk along life’s highway, which is full of hollows and mounds, to talk to one’s fellowmen, who are of manifold temperaments – all these require concentration.

The senses have to be reined in, so that they may not distract or disturb; the brain must not go wool-gathering; the emotions must not colour or discolour the objectives one seeks. That is the way to succeed in concentration.

Yoga is chitta vritti nirodha - the cutting off all agitations on the lake of one’s inner consciousness.

Nothing should cause a wave of emotion or passion on the calm surface or in the quiet depths of one’s awareness. This state of equanimity is the hallmark of Jnana (spiritual wisdom).

Sadhana (spiritual discipline) is the drug, and Vichara (enquiry) is the regimen that will cure man of all waywardness and agitation.

- Divine Discourse, Jan 22, 1967.

Iron has to be beaten flat by iron alone. So too, the inferior, low mind has to be shaped better by the superior mind alone.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

How can we ensure that our noble resolves don’t waver with change in place, company or circumstances?

You draw a creeper with many flowers on a piece of paper. When the wind blows, the paper will flutter but not the creeper drawn on the paper.

Likewise, your mind may waver due to the influence of bad company but your heart will remain steady when you are endowed with true love.

Nobody can change the true love that is present in your heart. Love should find place not just in your mind but in your heart.

The mind is nothing but a bundle of thoughts. The love that is sustained in your mind by thoughts will be driven away by another current of thoughts.

Therefore, you should preserve love and sacred feelings in your heart.

True love has three qualities. First, it knows no fear. Second, it does not beg anything from anyone. Third, it is love for love's sake and not for any material gain.

These three qualities are the very core of love. This type of sacred love is actually true love.

- Divine Discourse, Jun 20, 1996.

The bandage of humility, the ointment of faith and the waters of love, will be able to cure this disease that has erupted with this boil of ‘I’.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What should be the source of our confidence and courage?

Many of you might have read the story of Abraham Lincoln, who lived in penury during his student days.

While other boys went to school in costly clothes, Lincoln could not afford even a proper dress when he went to school.

One day, his friends made fun of him and humiliated him. He came home crying and told his mother how he was being insulted and humiliated.

His mother consoled him, saying, “My dear son, do not get affected by praise or blame. Develop self-confidence. Have firm faith in the Divine. Then everything will become good for you.”

These words made a lasting impression on the tender heart of Lincoln. He acquired self-confidence with the encouragement of his mother. Ultimately, he rose to the position of the President of America.

Nothing is impossible in this world for one with self-confidence and courage. He can accomplish anything and everything. Therefore, strengthen self-confidence.

Don’t bother about what others say. Don’t be afraid, even if they make fun of you. Why should you have any fear when He is with you? He is the resident of your heart.

- Divine Discourse, Feb 14, 2009.

Society can be set right only by those who have firm faith in Him

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What makes Divinity in man shine forth?

It is necessary for man to perform good actions constantly in his daily life.

As the proverb goes, “If you go on singing, you can sing well; if you go on chewing neem leaves, even they will taste sweet; if you go on rubbing stone, it will become smaller”.

The value of a diamond increases after grinding and cutting. Similarly, Divinity shines forth in a person, after passing through trials and tribulations and upon constant practice.

Fire is produced when two logs of wood are rubbed against each other. Soft butter comes out by churning of curd. Similarly, man can attain Divinity by constantly thinking of Him.

It is said, the more you rub the sandal log on stone, the more the fragrance it gives. When you crush the sugarcane hard, it gives only sweet juice. When gold is put on fire, it sheds all its dirt and shines brilliantly.

Similarly, a spiritual aspirant should face all problems and difficulties, develop the spirit of renunciation and sacrifice and experience divinity!

- Divine Discourse, Apr 26, 1993

He sets tests not as a punishment or because he enjoy putting you into trouble, but just to give you the joy of passing!

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What should we do to stop humanness from degrading?

The most important element in man’s existence, is sankalpa (thought).

As are the thoughts, so is the speech. As is the speech, so are the actions. The harmony of these three will lead to the experience of Divinity.

Words come out of the heart. They should be filled with compassion. The heart is the abode of compassion. It is the source of love. Hence, whatever emanates from the heart should be filled with love.

That love should express itself in speech. The flow of love in speech should find concrete expression in action. The heart is the seat of the Paramatma (Supreme Self).

The Ganga that flows from it, is the river of Truth. Actions are the harvest that is reaped from the field watered by Truth. Hence, it is said that the high-souled beings are marked by harmony in thought, word and deed.

Unfortunately, today people think in one way, speak in another way and act differently. As a result, humanness has been degraded today.

To raise it to its proper level, the triune unity of thought, word and deed is essential. This is the penance for our times. This is the means to realise peace.

- Divine Discourse, Jul 09, 1995.

True education can be summed up in one word: Love, all-encompassing love. A life without love is worse than death.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is necessary to receive the Divine’s grace?

Grow the twin wings of love and faith; then you can soar freely in the sky of the His grace.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the connection between pure love and righteousness?

The Divine incarnates to teach Dharma (righteousness) to man and to raise him to the divine level.

Dharma itself, therefore, takes human form.

Devotion is most important in the life of man. Unflinching love for Him is true Bhakti (devotion). But people waste their lives by their love for external worldly objects.

Worldly love is not true love. This is sheer attachment, not love. Only love for Him is true love.

Intense love for Him is real devotion. The outpouring of Prema (love) is Dharma.

One who understands Dharma will foster Prema.

A person who develops love for Him can follow Dharma easily. Dharma and Prema are twins. But man today has lost both these qualities.

Life without Dharma and Prema, is barren like a wasteland.

- Divine Discourse, Apr 24, 1996.

Cultivate the quality of unbounded, selfless love. It is only then that real spiritual wisdom will dawn on you.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the role of Bhakti (devotion) in acquiring the knowledge of the Self?

Scriptures assert that acquiring Jnana (wisdom) alone confers the eternally blissful freedom or liberation (moksha), which is the panacea for all ills, troubles and travails.

To acquire this Jnana, there are many paths, and the chiefest of them is the path of Bhakti (love directed towards Him). That is the reason why even great and noble men adopted the path of Bhakti.

As the oil is the basis to the flame in the lamp, devotion towards Him, is the basis to the flame of Jnana (wisdom).

The heavenly tree of the joy of Jnana thrives on the refreshing waters of Bhakti.

Scriptures: I am known by the means of Bhakti. Why was this declaration made? Because, in the path of Bhakti, there are no dangers.

Young and old, high and low, man and woman, all are entitled to tread it.

- Ch 6, Jnana Vahini.

Realisation, which is not possible through logic, offering sacrifices, and through discussion and other disciplines, can be achieved only through love.

Source: radiosai.org