Sri Sathya Sai International Organization

Wisdom alone can grant full freedom. Just as the end of culture is progress, the end of knowledge is love, so, the end of wisdom is freedom.

The inner meaning of the Sun's northward journey has to be properly understood. The north is represented by Himachala. Hima means snow. It is pure, untainted and extremely cool. All these endow it with the quality of Prasanthi (Supreme Peace). Achala means that which is steady and unshakeable. Himachala does not refer to the physical Himalayan region. It represents that which is cool, peaceful and steady. From today, the Sun is said to move towards such a state. The Sun symbolizes the vision of man. The northward movement of the Sun is a call to human beings to turn their vision towards that which is cool, peaceful, and unchanging. This means that men should direct their vision inwards. This is the lesson taught by the Sun.

It is only a pure and loving heart that is the source of bliss. The holy festival of Sankranthi signifies change or transformation of the heart. It is experiencing bliss arising out of the realization of the changeless, Eternal Principle. Divinity is the only principle that is changeless. God is ever blissful. In fact, He is the Embodiment of bliss.

Each second is a fresh chance given to you for training the mind, refining the intellect, purifying the emotions, strengthening the will, for getting confirmed in the conviction that you are the deathless Self, the Infinite Consciousness (Atma).

On the banks of the river near Lucknow, there was a sage who addressed dogs, crows, and men equally as God. He had realized the unity of all in the Divine Essence. That is the result of Divine knowledge, or intense devotion, where you do not see anything other than your Chosen Deity, wherever you turn. Be ever in that Divine Bliss, the bliss that comes from God-consciousness, always and everywhere.

The human body is like the sugarcane filled with the juice of love. It is only when the body is subjected to hardship that the divine, sweet juice of love can flow from it. Without trouble to the body, pains to the mind, and control of the feelings, how can you expect to experience the Divine?

Realize that human happiness is not to be found in sensory objects or experiences. Whatever pleasure is derived from these is transient and momentary. Real and enduring bliss is to be derived from within one's self.

If you want to realize God, if you wish to experience the Divinity within you, if you want to know your true self, you have to develop pure, unsullied love. It is this that binds all people. It is described as the tether of love.

On this New Year Day I wish you all every happiness and prosperity. The ancients used to bless those who come to them with long life of 100 years and good health. They wished the people long life so that they may lead worthy lives. Lead a long life, happy life, peaceful life, loving life and divine life. Redeem your lives by practicing Divine Love.

It is only when every moment is cherished as new, will the new year become new. The sacred way in which every moment is spent will determine the fruitfulness of the year. If you wish to lead a sacred life and have sacred experiences, you must engage yourself in sacred actions. The good and evil in the world can be changed only by the change in men’s actions. The transformation of society must start with the transformation of individuals.

Cultivate love. Love is the form of the Divine and God can be realized only through love. Of all the myriad names given to God, the one which is most to be cherished is Being-Awareness-Bliss (Sat-Chit-Ananda).

Jesus attained the highest level of spirituality, having gone through all tests. Jesus was not merely a human form. He was the Embodiment of Divine Self, verily.

In his 12th year, Jesus and his parents (Joseph and Mary), happened to go to a Jewish festival in Jerusalem. In the jostling crowds Jesus got separated from his parents. After a frantic search, Mary found him in a temple listening to a speech of the High Priest. When Mary told Jesus about the anxiety that they felt when they missed him, Jesus replied: "Why should you worry about me? When I am with God, who is my Father, why should you have any fear on my account?" Jesus thus revealed that he regarded himself as the Son of God.

Two different characteristics are to be found among men. One characteristic, which is rather common, is for one to delude himself that he is a good man, with many virtues, intelligence and talents. The other quality which is rare, is recognition of the good quality in others, their merits, abilities and good deeds, and appreciate their ideals. Jesus belonged to the second category. He saw the good qualities in others, rejoiced over their virtues and shared his joy with others.