Life 49 (Nov 25 - Dec 27)

[winston]

What will give us the deservedness for earning the Divine’s grace?

People pray to the Divine for His grace and blessings. But first, they should earn deservedness.

Here is a small example. When people travel in a bus, the person who boards the bus first sits on the first seat and the one who boards the bus last sits on the last seat.

But while getting down from the bus, the person on the last seat gets down first, and the one on the first seat gets down last.

In this way, the person who boards the bus first, stays in the bus for a longer period. Moreover, if he has a bag with some valuables in it, he gets time to gather them carefully. This is called prapti (deservedness).

A person with purity of mind has this deservedness. Hence, man should wash away dirty thoughts from his mind and fill it with sacred thoughts. Then only will he attain Jnana Drishti (vision of wisdom), which will enable him to see the universe as the shining cosmic form of the Divine.

- Divine Discourse, Apr 18, 1996

Cry for the Divine, unable to bear the pangs of separation. Have the vision and earn His grace only, due to such intense yearning.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why is it meaningless to spend all our time and energy in earning money and acquiring skills?

The purpose of human birth is not to be born again and again from the womb of a mother, spend life aimlessly and finally depart from this world!

There is a specific purpose why one is born in this world. Therefore, one must realise the purpose and sanctify his life.

Our education, our work and the money we earn - all must be spent in a purposeful way.

The students of the present day are pursuing education to make a living. They are acquiring degrees with the sole purpose of earning money.

What is so great about struggling to fill one’s own belly? Even dogs and foxes fill their bellies!

You might have observed in the circus that even the monkeys learn several types of feats and display them. You, who are born as human beings, should not behave like dogs, foxes and monkeys.

If you do so, of what use is your education? The education you acquire must be put to proper use. Only then will it become meaningful and give strength to your personality.

- Divine Discourse, Nov 23, 2004

Wherever you are, you must remember three things: Where did we come from? Where are we at present? What is the purpose of our coming here?

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

How should we lead our lives to find true happiness?

Real happiness can be found only in Truth and not elsewhere.

Bliss is where truth is. Truth is present where bliss is present. It is said, "There is no Dharma (Righteousness) greater than adherence to truth".

Human life gets sanctified only when man realises that there is no Dharma beyond Satya (Truth) and that Truth is our basic quality or nature, love is our blood and patience is our basic principle.

But unfortunately, man has embarked on a journey, reposing trust in his mind. The feeling of wellness and safety eludes those who repose trust in their minds.

Whereas those reposing faith in their hearts will pass over hurdles easily. Therefore, those who consider Him to be present in their hearts are real believers.

Life becomes sacred when strong faith is developed in Him and Dharma (righteousness). Only this kind of faith can foster peace, happiness and security.

Those who indulge in mundane activities without faith in Him and righteousness will never find peace, happiness and security in life.

- Divine Discourse, Nov 23, 1969

Pursue the vast, the cosmic, the all-inclusive Truth; do not be satisfied with paltry partial scraps of information; seek the Knower behind the knowing process.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is true surrender and service to the Divine?

The Divine must be revered at all times; what pleases the Divine must be understood and followed.

If you are worried, it only means that you have not surrendered to Him completely.

One who has totally surrendered to the Divine, will not care for any worries.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why is it important to pay attention to the true needs of the mind?

Man strives to provide himself with food, clothing and housing, for the sake of the body;

He must also provide himself with some things to keep the mind healthy and happy.

It is the mind that conditions even the body. The mind is the instrument, the flywheel, the thickest comrade of man.

Through it, one can either ruin oneself or save oneself. Regulated and controlled, channelised properly, it can liberate; wayward and let loose, it can entangle and bind fast.

Try to find out when exactly man is having full and undisturbed peace. You will see that he is at peace only during sushupti (deep sleep).

For at that time, the senses are inactive, the mind is inert and unattached to the senses or their targets.

So when senses are made ineffective to drag the mind out, man can attain peace. That is the real sadhana, the basic sadhana: the withdrawal of the senses from the objective world (nivrittimarga).

Train the mind to dwell on the inner equipment, rather than the outer attractions.

- Divine Discourse, Apr 21, 1967.

Man becomes a victim of ignorance, darkness and lust, if he gives unrestricted freedom to his senses.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Where can we find peace and bliss in this life?

Man has in him, all the bliss as well as all the equipment needed to unravel it; but he is caught in dire ignorance of his own inner resources.

He can have supreme peace but he does not strive to earn it; his attempts are weakened by doubt and indecision and so, they are doomed to failure.

Of course, there is the flow of water underneath the ground. But how can we benefit from it, unless efforts are made to dig down into that source?

A good deal of 'desire-for-sense-satisfaction' has to be removed, before the inner spring of peace and joy, can be tapped.

Your lives are essentially of the nature of Shanti (Peace); your nature is essentially Love; your hearts are saturated with Truth.

Rid yourselves of the impediments that prevent their manifestation; you do not make any attempt towards this, and so, there is no peace or love or truth in the home, the community, the nation and the world.

The husband and the wife, do not live in concord; the father and his sons, are involved in factions; even friends do not see eye to eye!

Twins take different paths. For they live in a competitive, warring world of passions and emotions.

It is only when the Divine is the goal and guide, that there can be real peace, love and truth.

- Divine Discourse, Feb 21, 1974

Close your eyes and try to see within. In this process, bliss will emerge from within you.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

How should we respond, as spiritual seekers, to happiness and sorrow?

For all the confusion and conflict prevailing in man and in the world today, it is the feelings and thoughts of people that are responsible.

We should never criticise others, saying they have harmed us, or retaliate, saying they have hurt us. That person is only an instrument. It is the bad in your mind that is hurting you.

Similarly, if someone does good to you, he is only an instrument. It is the consequence of your own good actions that is bringing you good.

Therefore, consider whatever good or bad, that happens to you as the consequence of your own actions and not as grace or punishment from the Divine.

He is like a postman. The postman delivers one letter to one address, and the people in the house rejoice over the good news contained in it. He delivers another letter at a second house and there is lamentation over the sad news contained in the letter.

Is the postman responsible for the joy or the sadness of the recipients of the letters?

No. It is the content of the respective letters that is responsible. What you experience by way of joy or grief, is a consequence of your own actions.

The Divine is only a witness.

- Divine Discourse, Nov 23, 1994

The good you do will always follow and protect you.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why is adhering to Dharma (Righteousness) so critical in the spiritual path?

Divine teachings can be assimilated only when there is faith in Dharmic principles.

When neglected, these teachings will turn into gramophone records, winding vainly, with no effect on hearts.

The exhortations of the Scriptures provide us with many insights.

When did the Sage acquire the eligibility to receive the teachings and the bliss from the Divine? He acquired it only when he totally surrendered himself, affirmed his faith in righteousness and the Divine.

“To me, there is none other than You.” Only then did his heart become pure.

- Divine Discourse, Nov 23, 1969

One can develop Vishwa Prema (Boundless Love) through the practice of Dharma. It is the highest Sadhana.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

How should we use the "Spititual Organisation" for our spiritual journey?

Use the mind to cleanse the feelings, impulses, attitudes, tendencies and levels of consciousness.

Let it not accumulate dirt from the outer world and deposit them within itself.

If it is attached to work, the consequences of work get attached to it.

Unattached work is the purest; it does not encumber the mind with elation or disappointment.

‘I did it,’ ‘This is mine’: these are the two fangs that make the individual poisonous. Pull out the fangs, the snake can be handled and played with as a pet.

The "Spiritual Organisations" must be vigilant to see that egoism and the sense of personal possession, pride or achievement, do not invade them.

That is the goal to be kept in view. When an organisation is started, it has to lay down for itself certain rules and regulations. But our rules are of a different nature altogether.

Our rules emphasise that members must first practise what they stand for. Whatever you desire others to do, you must first put into daily practice sincerely and with steadfastness.

You must do bhajan regularly and systematically, before you advise others about the efficacy of bhajans. When you want to be honoured by others, you must learn to honour them first.

- Divine Discourse, Apr 21, 1967.

Seva must be directed towards the removal of physical distress, the alleviation of mental agony and the fulfilment of spiritual yearning.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the difference between the wisdom born of virtue and intelligence?

Although clay is one, the products made out of it are varied in form and name.

Gold is one but many different ornaments are made out of it.

Milk is the same, though it may be derived from cows of different colours.

Though the Divine is one, He manifests Himself in various forms with different names.

From the fathomless ocean, countless waves arise. Though the waves appear as different from each other, the ocean is one.

Likewise, though living beings appear in the Universe in myriad forms, all of them are waves that have emerged from the ocean of Sat-chit-ananda (Being-Awareness-Bliss).

The joys and sorrows man experiences in daily life, his attachments and aversions, his pursuit of sensory pleasures, are all due to the vagaries of the mind.

As long as man is subject to the feeling of duality, he cannot be free from attachments and hatred.

There can be no escape from dualism as long as man does not recognise his inherent divinity.

There are today few who recognise unity in diversity, though there are any number of intellectuals who are engaged in promoting divisions and differences.

One righteous man can protect the world more than a thousand intellectuals. Therefore, virtue is more sacred and noble than intelligence.

- Divine Discourse, Dec 18, 1994

The essence of spirituality lies in visualising unity in diversity. This is the goal of human life.

Source: radiosai.org