Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Sathya Sai Baba wonderfully summarises the qualities possessed by one who is a genuine example of devotion: He must be free from anxiety and fear, pride and envy. He has four enemies that are intent on ruining him---anger, envy, hatred and the horde of desires. He regards both high and low as roles in the Divine play. When he insults or injures or rejects any one, he is, in fact, inflicting them on the God he adores.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 19/ Ch. 16, August 2, 1986
Monday, August 10, 2020
Devotion (Bhakthi) is a word that is used only with reference to love as directed to the Lord. When this love is broken up into many streams flowing in many directions and towards many points, it causes only grief, for it gets fixed on mortal things of the moment. Instead, allow the love to flow single-pointedly to the ocean of the Lord’s grace; this is the discipline (Sadhana) called devotion (Bhakthi).
Gita Vahini, Ch. 21
Monday, August 10, 2020
When you have here the very embodiment of love as your dearest treasure, why welcome into your hearts the waves of hatred, faction, fear and doubt?
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, February 23, 1971
Sunday, August 9, 2020
One has to meditate on one’s own favourite name and form, with Om added. When this is being done, there should be no mental wanderings; one must be stable and quiet. No thought of past events, no trace of anger or hatred, and no memory of sorrow should be allowed to interfere. Even if they intrude, they should not be considered at all; to counteract them, entertain thoughts that will feed one’s enthusiasm for meditation.
Dhyana Vahini, Ch. 1
Saturday, August 8, 2020
Keep the mind above the upper lip, between the two nostrils, right in front of the bridge of the nose. Inhale through the left nostril, closing the right with the right thumb. As the breath goes in, it utters So (meaning, He); then exhale through the right nostril, closing the left nostril. As the breath goes out, it utters ham (meaning, I). Inhale and exhale slowly and deliberately, conscious of the identity of He (the Lord) and I (yourself) which it asserts, until the breathing and the awareness grow into an unnoticed process. Keep the mind as a watchman, to note the incoming and outgoing breaths, to listen with the inner ear to the Soham that the breath whispers, and to witness the assertion of your being the Divine, which is the core of the universe.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 10, November 22, 1970
Friday, August 7, 2020
Before you start your meditation session, chant Soham, inhaling So and exhaling Ham. Soham means ‘He is I’, it identifies you with the infinite and expands your consciousness. Harmonise breath and thought. Breathe gently, naturally; do not make it artificial and laboured. Slow breath quietens and calms the emotions. The mood of relaxation produced by this Soham recital is a precondition for a profitable session of meditation.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 9, May 10, 1969
Thursday, August 6, 2020
Meditation (Dhyana) is the process by which it (the mind) is trained to acquire concentration. As a result of meditation on the highest Atma (Paramatma), the mind will withdraw from sense objects and the sensory world. Just at that time, the intellect (Buddhi) must assert its authority and command the mind (Manas) not to entertain any feeling except the thought of the Fundamental Basis (Atma). When its basic truth is known, the mind will not be deluded by the evanescent, the untrue, and the unblissful. Instead, it will welcome the blossoming of joy, happiness, and truth, and it will not be affected by sorrow and grief.
Dhyana Vahini, Ch. 1
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
Contemplate upon the pure thoughts in your mind. Contemplate on the Truth in you. If you really wish to know the secret of sadhana, it can be explained through very simple methods. For example, make your mind steady and still for as short a period as eleven seconds. You can attain realisation even in such a short period. Realisation cannot be achieved by becoming restless like a clock. Just eleven seconds of stillness of mind would be enough.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 40, World Youth Conference, July 28, 2007
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Focus your love only on God. God is present everywhere in the form of love. You should never entertain doubts in this regard. The stream of love should flow in you incessantly. Only then can you have the divine vision. No doubt, you have the desire to see God but you are not expanding your love. If you are interested, I am ready to grant you the vision of God. But you can see Him provided you cultivate true and eternal love in you.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 37, April 15, 2004
Monday, August 3, 2020
God is not separate from you. He is not outside. He is very much within you. Therefore, you should develop a relationship of love and oneness with God. If God were separate from you, you could form a mundane relationship with Him. But He is not separate from you. He is with you, in you, around you and behind you. You cannot have worldly relationship with God, who is all-pervasive. You should strengthen the feeling “God is in me” and develop oneness with Him.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 41, Sri Sathya Sai World Education Conference, July 21, 2008
Monday, August 3, 2020
Fear of sin, love of God---these two endow man with peace and joy, save him from sorrow and grant him aanandha (bliss).
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, January 14, 1971
Sunday, August 2, 2020
Always be happy, smiling and loving. When you are smiling, love will automatically develop in you. You must always be smiling and cheerful.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 40, World Youth Conference, July 28, 2007
Saturday, August 1, 2020
Love all beings - that is enough. Love with no expectation of return. Love for the sake of love. Love because your very nature is love. Love because that is the form of Worship you know and like. When others are happy, be happy likewise. When others are in misery, try to alleviate their lot to the best of your ability. Practise Love through selfless service (Seva). By this means, you will realise Unity and get rid of the ego that harms.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 12, Shivarathri, March 5, 1973
Friday, July 31, 2020
Love all, Serve all. Do not consider anybody as other person. Develop the feeling that they and you are one. The entire humanity is one. What you see in this world is only the reaction, reflection and resound of the reality that is one. Once you understand this truth, you will be peaceful. Only then will your mind be steady and one-pointed in the pursuit of your study and profession. Therefore, first and foremost, engage yourself in the service of society.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 39, Birthday, November 23, 2006
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Do all acts as offerings to God; do not classify some as ‘my work’ and some as ‘His work.’ All work is His; He inspires, He helps, He executes, He enjoys, He is pleased, He reaps, He sowed. He alone exists, for all this manifoldness is but He, seen through the mirror of Nature! Everything is for the attainment of the Supreme to be utilised for that high purpose. Nothing is to be used as itself, for itself. For Sai devotees (Sai Bhaktas), this is the only proper way of life.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 10, Guru Purnima, July 18, 1970
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
The foremost duty of the Sathya Sai Organisations is to promote unity on the basis that all are sparks of the divine and constitute one family. Without realising this basic truth, there is no use in rendering any kind of service. There can be no sacredness in service if good thoughts and good feelings are absent. Service as an act of righteousness (Dharma) can be offered only by one who is pure in heart, selfless and equal-minded towards everyone (Samathva).
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 20, Divine Discourse, November 19, 1987
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Your life is a long journey. You should have less luggage (desires) in this long journey of life. Therefore, it is said: less luggage more comfort makes travel a pleasure. So, ceiling on desires is what you have to adopt today. You have to cut short your desires day by day. You are under the mistaken notion that happiness lies in the fulfillment of desires. But, in fact, happiness begins to dawn when desires are totally eradicated.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 32, Divine Discourse, March 14, 1999
Monday, July 27, 2020
Today we waste time on unnecessary and unwanted things, in indulging in unnecessary talk and doing meaningless actions. In all these actions we are sacrificing the body to time. Instead we should try to make time our servant. It means spending our time in good thoughts and good deeds. Every second of your daily existence you must ask these questions: “How am I utilising time? Is it for a good or bad purpose?”
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 17, Divine Discourse, July 14, 1984
Monday, July 27, 2020
Consider mother as God; consider father as God; consider preceptor as God. Speak the truth; act righteously; do not adopt other ways.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Vidya Vahini, Chapter 7
Sunday, July 26, 2020
To transform these evil thoughts and actions into good ones, it is necessary to infuse love into all thoughts and actions. When the mind is filled with Love, all actions get suffused with Love. It is vital to fill the mind with love and expel the six enemies residing in it. Every part of the body should be filled with Divine Love. That is the way to divinise man.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 30, Christmas, December 25, 1997
Saturday, July 25, 2020
Be always saturated with love (Prema); do not use poisonous words against anyone, for, words wound more fatally than even arrows. Speak soft and sweet; sympathise with suffering and loss and ignorance; try your best to apply the salve of soothing words and timely succour. Do not damage the faith of anyone in virtue and divinity. Encourage others to have that faith by demonstrating in your own life that virtue is its own reward, that divinity is all-pervasive and all-powerful.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 5, Diwali, October 25, 1965
Friday, July 24, 2020
In order to promote harmony, the first rule you must follow is control of the tongue. Do not give all your thoughts immediate expression. Select, ponder, and then, speak out. Speak softly, sweetly, without malice in your heart; speak as if you are addressing the Sai who resides in everyone.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 1, Akhanda bhajans, July 10, 1959
Thursday, July 23, 2020
You should not be weak; be brave and welcome troubles. It is only with such a courageous attitude that you would be able to bring out the forbearance (Kshama) hidden within you. It is only your own tenacity and firm determination that will help you cultivate this virtue. You must be resolute and ready to face any difficulty in the quest of your goal. Life is a challenge; meet it!
Summer Showers, Summer Course, May 25, 2000
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Forbearance (Kshama) is not achieved by reading books or learnt from an instructor. Nor can it be received as a gift from someone else. This prime virtue kshama can be acquired solely by self-effort, by facing squarely diverse problems, difficulties of various sorts, anxieties, and suffering as well as sorrow. Difficulties help one to nurse and build the capacity for patience, one must therefore gladly welcome troubles instead of regarding them as unwelcome.
Summer Showers, Summer Course, May 25, 2000
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
When you get rid of the five evils associated with the pollution of speech, sight, hearing, thought and action, you will be able to realise your own Divinity and become a Supreme Soul (Paramatma). If the senses are fed with polluted food, you cannot become pure merely by taking milk and fruit. You must partake of pure Satvic food through all the five sense organs.
Summer Showers, Divine Discourse, May 20, 1990
Monday, July 20, 2020
Know that whatever you feel or do is an offering to God, flows towards God. So, be cautious. Do not offer bad thoughts, words and deeds which He does not accept. Offer instead the holy and the pure. That is your duty. That will ensure Self-satisfaction.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 17, Birthday, November 23, 1984
Monday, July 20, 2020
Always love and follow only truth; falsehood is never beneficial.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Dhyana Vahini, Chapter 13
Sunday, July 19, 2020
Keep the mind away from low desires that run after fleeting pleasures. Turn your thoughts away from them and direct the thoughts toward permanent bliss, which is derivable from the knowledge of the immanent divinity. Keep before the mind’s eye the faults and failures of sensory pleasures and worldly happiness. Thus, you will be helped to grow in discrimination and non-attachment and to make spiritual progress.
Jnana Vahini, Ch. 27
Saturday, July 18, 2020
Where there is Self-confidence, there is truth. Where there is truth, there is bliss. Where there is bliss, there is peace. Where there is peace, there is God. Hence you must cultivate Self-confidence.
Summer Showers, Buddha Purnima, May 26, 2002
Friday, July 17, 2020
Students have to be encouraged to “Follow the Master (the inner voice of Conscience), Face the Devil (the down-dragging anti-social urges), Fight to the End (until one is able to overcome the inner foes of lust, anger, greed, undue attachment, pride and hatred) and Finish the Game (of life on earth).”
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 19, Divine Discourse, December 28, 1986