Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 1st, 2007
The true secret of enjoyment lies in sacrifice. Sacrifice has also been declared to be the only means of achieving immortality. Giving up what is taken in is a law of life. It applies to breathing, food and other things. Likewise, the wealth which one acquires should also be given back to society. Wealth includes not only riches, but every other form of acquisition including knowledge, scholarship, and skills of various kinds. The knowledge you have acquired through education should be imparted to others. It is by such sharing that your education gets enriched and purposeful. If you do not impart the knowledge you possess, it becomes useless. This means that the more you give, the more you grow.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 2nd, 2007
If the place you must reach is very near you can just step across; if the distance is more, you may need a vehicle and for longer distances, you may require a plane. But, the Lord is nearest to you. Slide ajar the door of delusion and part the curtain of ignorance. Open the closed eyes and you will find that He is right there before you. The fog of sensual pleasure is hiding Him from you. Switch on the light; the darkness disappears and He becomes visible.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 3rd, 2007
When strength of body and steadfastness of mind reinforce each other, one's mien becomes attractive. People today have neither physical strength nor mental steadfastness, so they appear old very early in life. When the body is weak, the mind too gets weak. You must strive for physical well-being and health, for a gem has to be treasured in a safe, strong box. The gem of Divinity that is your Reality also has to be kept in a strong box, namely the body.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 4th, 2007
Man may love the body, the mind, the Buddhi (the intellect) or the Antah Karana (the Inner Instruments). Love for the body ends with the death of the body. Love for the mind results in bondage because of the aberrations of the mind. Love for the intellect results in endless speculation and enquiry. Love for the Antah Karana promotes the ego feeling. It encourages dualism (separating man from God). Only the one who realises his oneness with the Atma can experience infinite bliss - the bliss that is eternal.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 5th, 2007
A little practice will teach you to hold fast to the feet of God while roaming about in the world, doing all duties and carrying out all responsibilities dedicated to Him. Do all work as actors in a play, keeping your identity separate and not getting too attached to your role. Remember that the whole thing is just a play and the Lord has assigned you a part; there your duty ends. He has designed the play and enjoys it.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 6th, 2007
Human values cannot be promoted merely by repeating the words - Sathya (Truth), Dharma (Righteousness), Shanti (Peace), Prema (Love) and Ahimsa (Non-violence). The Vedas declare: 'Sathyam Vada, Dharmam Chara' (Speak the truth, adhere to right conduct). Truth and right conduct should be adhered to with pure intentions. A righteous life leads to peace. Love is to be experienced in the depths of peace. Love should find expression in non-violence. Where love prevails, there is no room for doing harm or indulging in violence towards others. All these basic values have to be demonstrated in action and not limited to preaching.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 7th, 2007
Man always seeks happiness by trying to satisfy his desires. If a desire is fulfilled, he feels joyous and when it is not, he feels disheartened. But the trouble is, desire is a bonfire that burns with greater fury asking for more fuel every time. One desire leads to ten more; and man exhausts Himself in trying to fulfill his desires. He has to be turned back from this path of never-ending desire, to the path of inner contentment and joy.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 8th, 2007
The thought that arises in the mind, the word that is formed on the tongue and the act performed by the hand - when these three are in harmony, they indicate humanness. Nowadays man appears to be man, but his humanness is absent, partly because he thinks one way, speaks another way and acts a third way. Speak what you think, do what you speak; that is the sign of true human. So, you must first act according to your own advice. Bring about consonance between your thought, word and deed, and then guide others.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 9th, 2007
Parents toil to leave a pile of riches for their children, but they do not teach them the proper sense of values. Children should be taught to live like lotuses in the lake, being in the water and yet unaffected by it. Lotuses cannot survive when out of the water; yet they will not allow water to enter! Be in the world, but see that the world is not in you. That is the secret of successful living which should be taught to young ones.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 10th, 2007
Man by his very nature has a tendency to make an effort to satisfy the desires that arise within him or which are prompted through senses from without. Very often, these are deleterious. Is there any end to the list of your worldly desires? When you satisfy one, another starts tantalising you. If something is lost or stolen from you, you lose faith in Me. I have not come to guard your jewels and your valuables. I have come to guard your virtues and character, and guide you to the ultimate goal.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 11th, 2007
Consider the good influence that good association can exert. A big boulder lying neglected by the side of the road can receive adoration of thousands when it is sculpted into an idol and installed in a temple. However, evil company demeans and debases man. Take the example of fire, which is held sacred and lit in many temples and churches. But, when the fire enters the rod of a blacksmith, it has to suffer hammer blows. Attachment to the iron brings about this calamity for the highly venerated fire.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 12th, 2007
The chief duty of man is investigation into the Truth. Truth can be won only through dedication and devotion, and they are dependent on the grace of God, which is showered on hearts saturated with love. Truth is more fundamental than the atom. Every atom and every star manifests the Truth to those who have the eyes of wisdom. What is the special nature of man? If he too lives and dies as an animal, how can his supremacy be justified? His supremacy lies in his capacity to become aware of his Truth.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 13th, 2007
If you wish to understand your true nature, you must do three things: bend the body, mend the senses and end the mind. To bend the body means to cultivate humility and carry out our duties sincerely. Mending the senses calls for examining how the senses behave, whether they are tending to go astray, and correcting them and restraining them when necessary. Change and evolution are natural to mind, but the presence of the unchanging Divinity should be experienced within.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 14th, 2007
Many pray to God all over the world. They pray for the realisation of worldly desires of one kind or the other. This is not the right kind of prayer. You should pray to God for His grace and love. That love is everlasting. God is Sath-Chith-Ananda (Being-Awareness-Bliss). So, pray to Him to confer that bliss on you. God's bliss is everlasting, whereas worldly pleasures are transient. Only he is a true devotee who prays for God's love and bliss.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 15th, 2007
When obstacles come in your way, face them with courage. They harden you and make you mentally tough. Suffering and misery are inescapable acts of the Cosmic drama. God does not decree these calamities, but man invites them by way of retribution for his evil deeds. This is the corrective punishment meted out by nature, which induces man to give up the wrong path. All this is part of the grand synthesis in which the negatives serve to glorify the positives. Thus, death glorifies immortality; ignorance glorifies wisdom; misery glorifies bliss; night glorifies dawn.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 16th, 2007
The progress of the universe is interlinked with the progress of man. Any amount of development in scientific, economic and social spheres will not be of much use without mental transformation. How can we bring about this transformation? It is by keeping in check one's passions and emotions. Since mental tension is most detrimental to man's health, man should learn the art of controlling his passions and emotions, which cause stresses and strains. Man should make an earnest endeavour to lead a serene and pure life. He should realise the truth that troubles and turmoils are temporary, like passing clouds. There is no scope for agitations to arise if one realises this truth. One who realises this truth will not allow his mind to be swayed by the passions of anger, cruelty, etc.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 17th, 2007
More effulgent than the sun, whiter and purer than snow, subtler than ether in space, the Paramatma (God) dwells in all, permeating the entire cosmos and shining in every atom. You are in that Brahman (God); that Brahman is in you. You are that Brahman and Brahman is you. There is no truth greater than this.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 18th, 2007
What for is man born in this world? Is it merely to roam around and indulge in the pleasures of the world? Understand that worldly pleasures are not permanent. All that happens to you in future will be in accordance with your conduct today. Everything is reaction, reflection and resound. The good deeds that you perform today will yield good results in the time to come. If you do bad deeds today, you cannot expect to be rewarded with good results in future. The results of your past bad deeds will always keep haunting you.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 19th, 2007
Man is in search of God and is enquiring into the nature of divinity. When God is within, where is the need to search for Him? Firstly, man should endeavour to understand his true nature which is Sathyam, Jnanam and Anantham (truth, wisdom and infinitude). God has gifted man with the Vedas and other scriptures to open his eyes to the truth that he is essentially divine. In this world, every man is endowed with truth, righteousness and love. Man is the embodiment of Sath, Chith and Ananda (Being-Awareness-Bliss). These attributes are verily divine.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 20th, 2007
Delusion causes evil feelings to arise in your heart and mind. One may be evil-minded, yet with the blessings of elders and in the company of noble souls, one can easily get rid of evil tendencies and develop virtues. People undertake various spiritual practices to attain divinity. Thyaja Durjana Samsargam; Bhaja Sadhu Samagamam; Kuru Punyam Ahorathram; Smara Nityam Anityatham (Shun bad company; seek good company, perform righteous deeds always and discriminate between the permanent and the ephemeral).
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 21st, 2007
Spiritual life does not mean leaving the home and living in a solitary place. True spiritual life means looking upon the whole of mankind as one family, realising the unity in diversity, and leading a life of selflessness and love. Do not labour to amass wealth, but instead engage yourself in selfless service to earn credit in the bank of God.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 22nd, 2007
When you are confronted with problems and difficulties you should not get upset, and become victims of depression which is a sign of weakness. In such a situation, you should bring tolerance and an attitude of forgiveness into play and should not get agitated giving rise to anger, hatred and revengeful attitude. You are embodiments of strength and not weakness. Therefore, in times of despair, you should be filled with the feeling of forbearance and be ready to forgive and forget. This quality of Kshama (forgiveness) is the greatest power for a human being. If one loses this quality, he becomes demonic.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 23rd, 2007
Time passes by fast like a stormy gale and man's life is melting away quickly like a block of ice in the sun. Everything around is undergoing change, but man's intellect and mind remain unchanged. Obsessed with the external world, preoccupied with the acquisition of external objects, man's life is becoming more and more burdensome everyday and man is losing his peace of mind. Anxiety, fear, suspicion are dominating him. Only by getting rid of these burdens can man hope to ascend spiritual heights.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 24th, 2007
Men in their ignorance ask the question, "If God is omnipresent and all-pervasive, why is He not visible to us?" When the sun shines, clouds that are formed by the sun's heat hide the rays of the sun. When the sun is not visible because of the clouds, can you say that there is no sun? When a strong wind blows, the clouds are dispelled and the sun is visible again. Similarly, when the winds of love and faith blow, the clouds of doubt and egoism are scattered and God reveals Himself. Though God is omnipresent, man's lack of faith and his self-conceit prevent him from seeing God. To get rid of this doubting nature and egoism, certain spiritual disciplines have to be observed.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 25th, 2007
The Lord's grace is conferred on each devotee according to the level of his spiritual consciousness. The ocean is vast and boundless. But, the amount of water you can carry from it is determined by the size of the vessel you carry to its shore. If the vessel is small, you cannot fill it beyond its capacity. Likewise, if your heart is constricted, divine grace will be equally limited. Broaden your heart by getting rid of narrow differences and thus recognise the truth that the Divine dwells in everybody.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 26th, 2007
Once man is free from undue attachment to the body, he is liberated also from the dualities of joy and grief, good and bad, pleasure and pain, etc. He is firmly established in equanimity, fortitude and undisturbed peace. There, man discovers that the world is one in God; that all is joy, love and bliss. He realises that he himself is all this apparent world, that all the multifarious manifestations are the projections of the Divine will, which is his own Reality. This expansion of one's individuality is the highest goal of man. It gives supreme Ananda (bliss), an experience for which sages and saints spend years in prayer and penance.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 27th, 2007
As long as you worship the Lord with form, you use certain flowers such as roses, marigolds and jasmine, although the body that performs the worship and the flowers which you use are all impermanent. But if you want to worship the formless God in your heart, then the flowers you use are different; they are the flowers of non-violence, of love and compassion, of charity and sacrifice. To elevate yourself to the formless principle, you will have to cultivate these flowers of the heart and use them in your worship. Then you will experience the ineffable and permanent joy of the spirit.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 28th, 2007
If a mother has two children and one of them is ill, she will give the sick child the prescribed medicine though it may be bitter. The other child may get to eat whatever he asks for. This does not mean that the mother loves one child more than the other. She knows that what she is doing is for the good of the child though it may be unpleasant for him. God is like a mother, always looking after the welfare of His devotees and carrying them safely through life.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 29th, 2007
Man is consciousness incarnate. Man is the highest object in creation. Hence, he should not become a creature of instinct like animals. Man should progress from the human to the Divine. It is not the world that binds man. It has neither eyes to see nor hands to grasp. Man is a prisoner of his own thoughts and desires. In his attachment to the ephemeral and the perishable, man forgets his inherent Divinity and does not realize that everything in the universe has come from the Divine and cannot exist without the power of the Divine.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 30th, 2007
Work is for the physical level. Worship for the mental level and wisdom is for the spiritual level. Each one has to pass through these three stages. That is why I say, "You are not one, but three." The one you think you are - the body or the physical person; the one others think you are - the mind or the mental person consisting of emotions, attitudes and beliefs and the one you really are - the Atma or spirit, the core of your personality.
-SAI BABA