Life 48 (Feb 25 - Dec 26)

[winston]

What should we do to shine with the brilliance of our divine nature?

The sun shines brilliantly when there is no obstruction but when we build a house and fit it with doors and windows and close all of them, there is only darkness but no light inside that house.

When we want the Sun’s light to penetrate into the house, either of two things must be done by us.

We must remove the top, that is, we must get rid of deha bhranti (the illusion that one is the body).

We demolish the top, which is made of ahamkara or ego and mamakara or attachment.

Alternatively, we can fit a mirror and see that the Sun is reflected into the house. It is then possible to spread light in the dark interior of the house by moving the mirror.

But, does light come from the Sun or the mirror? The mirror is inert and not luminous by nature.

The moon is also like a mirror, it has no brightness of its own. The light of the sun is reflected on the surface of the moon, and therefore, the light of the moon is also cool and pleasant.

Our Scriptures teach that the moon is like the mind, which reflects the glory of the soul!

If the light of Atma is reflected in the mirror of intelligence, then the entire dark mind may shine with light!

- The Path of Devotion, Summer Showers 1972

Acting under the dictates of the mind brings disaster; acting under the instructions of the illumined buddhi (intellect) is desirable.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Along with worshipping the Divine in temples, what should we also try to do sincerely?

All people in this world love someone or the other. However, there are differences in such love.

The students love their fellow students. The bodies love other bodies.

The Divine is present in this body as well as the other body. Both are embodiments of divinity.

The one Divine is present in all bodies. We must love every human being. Love all, Serve all, since He is present in all human beings.

There is no place in this universe where He is not present. He is present in the sky, in the water, in the sound and in the light. Thus, everything in this universe is the embodiment of divinity.

We forsake such omnipresent divinity and worship Him in the form of some idol in a temple. No doubt, you can worship those idols.

Nothing wrong in that. But you must realise the truth that the same Divine in that idol is present in every human being, nay, in every living being.

I don’t say it is wrong to worship those idols. But you are yourself Divine. Consider yourself as Divine first and then begin to see the same Divine in every living being.

- Divine Discourse, Jul 28, 2007.

If you can penetrate behind the stone (idol) and see the divine basis, how much easier it is to see the Divine who resides in the heart of every living being?

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the secret to leading a happy and healthy life?

As soon as we wake up in the morning, we should cleanse our mouth. The inner and outer sides of the teeth should be brushed well. The surface of the tongue should be cleaned thoroughly. For the mouth is the entrance for all diseases.

While talking to each other, we should be cautious of unpleasant odours. Health should thus be protected through hygiene.

Not only this, each working part of the body should be fit and robust.

We should always be aware of the truth that Divinity is inherent in each limb and organ of the body. That is why the Scriptures extol Divineas the essence in the limbs.

Each part of the body has its intrinsic characteristic goodness. You should learn from the Scriptures about the strength of the people who protected their health in this manner.

By preserving health, the men and women of those times were able to be exemplars of many ideals to the nation. They ate and slept on time. Ate lightly; never partook of anything out of schedule.

- Divine Discourse, May 27, 2002

Wealth does not consist of only money; it consists of good health, good qualities, purity and cleanliness also.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

In a world filled with strife, how can we ensure peace?

The Divine is present in all human beings. All heads of all human beings in this world are His own heads, verily.

Hence, He is described as embodiment of cosmic Divinity. His is the cosmic form. Each one in that cosmic form has a different form.

However, He is immanent in every form. The Scriptures declared that the eternal Atma in all beings, is a part of His Being.

He alone am present in each one of you. You are not different from Him. Do not entertain any doubts or differences of opinion in this regard.

Strengthen your love, that is the proper Sadhana (spiritual practice). If only the fruit of love in your heart is ripened, the juice of that fruit can be shared with one and all.

Hence, let that fruit of love ripen in your heart first. If only you fill your heart with pure love, that love can be shared with all.

All people then will become embodiments of love. Then, there will be no scope at all for hatred and violence in the world.

- Divine Discourse, Jul 28, 2007.

People admire the beauty of Nature but are not aware of the beauty in their hearts.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

In the path of surrender to the Divine, what is it that we must surrender?

Dedication means total surrender.

There is a formidable force that stands between man and Him, like a limiting wall. This power that is separating the devotee from Him is the ‘ego’. Only when we succeed in destroying the ego, can we merge into Divinity.

First, we must be able to surrender this ego to Him. Prapatti means surrendering of body, mind, intellect, awareness and senses, they being dependent on the ego.

Money, might, caste, education, beauty, kingdom, penance and arrogance, are all related to ego. Together or individually, they are comprised of ego.

Among them, pride in wealth and education, are much worse. There are medicines for all kinds of diseases. But the disease of ego, cannot be cured by any kind of medicine. '

There is only one medicine that is capable of subduing this disease of ego; that is Divinity. No other medicine except Divinity, is capable of curing this formidable disease.

- Divine Discourse, Jan 21, 1988.

The vision of the inner Atma will not be revealed to the spiritual aspirant, as long as one’s ego continues to exist.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the true nature of bliss and why is it important to understand where it comes from?

Every human being is an embodiment, repository and vehicle of ananda (bliss).

The awareness of this ananda is the goal of man, the consummation of human life. But, man seeks pleasure and happiness from objects through the senses and attains the low material ananda, not the supreme ananda he ought to win.

It must be said that the ananda attained through the objective world or through subjective means, is only a fractional expression of the ananda which the mergence in Brahman (Supreme Reality) grants.

We speak of hot water, though heat is not a quality of water; fire has given it the heat.

So too, objective ananda or subjective ananda is rendered so, through the grace of Brahmanandam (Supreme Divine Bliss).

Man prides himself that he has earned ananda himself by his effort. It is sugar that makes the bland globules of flour into sweet laddus.

The stars are proud that they shed light on a darkened world but the bright moonlight renders starlight too faint to be noticed. The moon’s pride too, is humbled when the sun illumines the sky.

Brahmananda is the Sun. This does not mean that one should ignore starlight and moonlight or Vishaya ananda and Vidya ananda — the bliss derived from nature and from spiritual experiential knowledge.

They are steps, stages, samples. While valuing them as such, the goal of Brahmananda has to be relentlessly pursued.

- Divine Discourse, Jul 25, 1983.

Ananda is the innate nature of Man. But, the pity is, he is searching for it everywhere except where it is available.

Source: radiosai.org