Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 1st, 2007
People imagine that spirituality means meditating on God, bathing in sacred waters and visiting holy shrines, but this is not the correct meaning of spirituality. Spirituality means destroying the animal nature in man and awakening him to his divine consciousness. Spirituality implies recognizing that one’s manifold capacities emanate from the Spirit and not from the mind, then utilizing them for achieving spiritual strength. It means acknowledging that all powers come from the Divine.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 2nd, 2007
Electricity is found everywhere in nature, but it can be tapped and put to use only through certain contrivances designed by man. The Atma Shakti (spiritual power) that is present everywhere is stored in the body and passes through the thin wires or nerves and illumines and directs activity. These activities have to be oriented towards Ananda (spiritual bliss) and not attachment to temporary pleasures. The life principle that flows as intelligence through every cell and nerve is also a reflection of the Atma.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 3rd, 2007
The sun derives its energy and effulgence from the same cosmic source that accounts for the power of the human mind and body. There is no greater power than this. This boundless power is being recognised and exercised by each according to the level of his development. Since man has the ability to manifest the latent divinity in himself, he is described as a manifestation of God. Humanness consists in manifestation of what is hidden and invisible to the eye.
-SAI BA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 4th, 2007
From time to time, the Divine power assumes numerous forms. In devotees, it shines as the Jnana-Agni (fire of wisdom). In non-devotees, it burns as Krodha-Agni (the fire of anger) or the Kama-Agni (fire of desire). Man today has this fire (of anger, etc) in his heart and has become a victim of fear and delusions. All other types of fire subside in due course of time, but these fires (of anger, etc.) never completely cease. They may flare up at any moment. How, then, are these fires to be extinguished once for all? Vairagya (detachment) and Prema (love) are the two requisites to extinguish these fires. It is only through Prema (love) that man can acquire peace.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 5th, 2007
Each one has come embodied into this world of joy and grief, of growth and decay in order to discover the way home, to get back to the source from which he has strayed into this wilderness. This has to be done within the allotted time of our life span. But, man is attracted by the phantom lights and he ignores the call of destiny. His senses lead him on and on, deeper and deeper into the maze until he dies with a moan instead of with a smile. The precious years between birth and death are wasted in worthless acquisitions and meaningless achievements.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 6th, 2007
Man is mortal and the Divine is immortal. In the mortal human being, there is the immortal Divine Spirit. In the field of the heart, there is a Kalpatharu (wish-fulfilling tree). The tree is surrounded by bushes and briars. When these are removed, the tree will become visible. This wish-fulfilling tree is within each person, but it is encompassed by the bad qualities in man. When these qualities are eliminated, the celestial tree will be recognised. This is the Sadhana (spiritual exercise) that each one has to perform. This is not the quest for something new. It is to experience what is yours. The entire cosmos is within you.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 7th, 2007
Man strives to provide himself with food, clothing and housing for the sake of the body. He must also provide himself with something to keep the mind healthy and happy. It is the mind that conditions the body. The mind is an instrument by which one can liberate oneself or ruin oneself. The mind must become the servant of the intellect and not the slave of the senses.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 8th, 2007
Do not give room for differences based on language, religion, caste or nationality. Develop the feeling that all are children of God. You may worship God in any form of your choice, but always bear in mind that God is one. Cultivate love towards all beings and promote unity and harmony.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 9th, 2007 (Deepavali)
From the very name of today's festival - Deepavali, it can be inferred that the Divine effulgence is manifest in it. Deepavali means "the array of lights." "Thamasomaa jyotirgamaya" (Lead me from darkness to light) is an Upanishadic prayer. This means that where there is darkness light is needed. What is this darkness? Sorrow is one form of darkness. Lack of peace is another. Disappointment is one form of darkness. Lack of enthusiasm is yet another. All these are different forms of darkness. To get rid of the darkness of sorrow, you have to light the lamp of happiness. To dispel the darkness of disease, you have to install the light of health. To get over the darkness of losses and failures, you have to usher in the light of prosperity.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 10th, 2007 (Global Akhand Bhajan Day)
The spiritual vibrations produced by Bhajans confer great joy both on those who sing them and on those who listen to them. Bhajans remove all negative thoughts, soothe the nerves, purify the mind and fill the body and the heart with sweet love for the divine. As one sings Bhajans, the mind is saturated with God Consciousness and a great ecstasy wells up from within. No mental or intellectual effort is called for, as there is no need to understand anything while uttering the holy names of God and singing His glory. The singing and the atmosphere created by Bhajans takes one beyond the realms of the body, mind and intellect and helps to establish communion with the Higher Self (consciousness) within.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 11th, 2007
All that you cannot see, hear or understand cannot be ruled out as non-existent. Even if you flash a powerful light in front of a blind man, he will only see darkness, because he does not have the eyes to see the light. Likewise, persons having no faith will not perceive God even if you show God to them. They do not have the eyes to see divinity and they proclaim that there is no divinity. A blind man can neither see his body nor describe his looks, but it does not follow that he has no body.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 12th, 2007
Goodness, compassion, tolerance – through these virtues one can perceive the Divinity in oneself and in others. Softness of heart is often condemned as weakness, cowardice and want of intelligence; they say that the heart has to be hardened against pity and charity, but that way lies war, destruction and downfall. Love alone confers lasting happiness and peace. Sharing can alone reduce grief and multiply joy. People are born to share, to serve, to give and not to grab.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 13th, 2007
Man is a part of the human community. Mankind is a part of nature. Nature is a limb of God. Man has not recognised these inter-relationships. Today men are forgetting their obligations. The Cosmos is an integral organism of interrelated parts. When each one performs his duty, the benefits are available to all. Man is entitled only to perform his duties and not to the fruits thereof. Man is a kind of stage-director of what goes on in Nature. But forgetting his responsibilities, man fights for rights. It is foolish to fight for rights without discharging one's duties. All the chaos and conflicts in the world are due to men forgetting their duties. If everyone discharge their duties diligently, the world will be peaceful and prosperous.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 14th, 2007
The right attitude of the devotee should be one of total surrender. As one devotee declared, “I am offering to you the heart which you gave me. I have nothing I can call my very own. All are yours. I offer to you what is already yours.” As long as this spirit of total surrender is not developed, man will have to be born again and again. One should offer one's heart to the Divine and not be content with making offerings like flowers and fruits.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 15th, 2007
It is only God, the embodiment of love, who is always with you and in you. Bereft of love, man cannot exist. Love is your life. Love is the light that dispels the darkness of ignorance. One who does not cultivate love will be born again and again. Punarapi Jananam Punarapi Maranam. Whoever is born will die one day and whoever dies will be born again. Birth and death are the Prabhava (effect) of the objective world. As he is deluded by the Prabhava, man is subjecting himself to Pramada (danger).
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 16th, 2007
There is no greater Sadhana (spiritual exercise) than service. Service is the principle means for acquiring divine grace. Without being a devoted follower, you cannot become a worthy leader. If you are not willing to do work, you cannot attain divinity. Each one has to realize this truth. Service to society is the highest good. It is Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love and Non-violence that give happiness. These are the five principles that sustain life. Under no circumstances should these principles be departed from or given up. Render service to society with these principles in your mind, and with broad-minded dedication to the well-being of all.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 17th, 2007
Visions are only reflections of divine vibrations in the mind, aroused by Sadhana (spiritual practice). They are milestones, signposts; they happen on the road to the goal. They do not, they cannot accompany you right to the end. You will have to travel alone and overcome obstacles. Grace from your own self is the most important and essential help for spiritual progress. I might grant you grace without limit, but of what use can that be if your heart is not clean and if your head is full of ego? Clean your heart with Prema (love) and remove ego through service.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 18th, 2007
Every object has a Swaroopam (its own form) and Swabhavam (its own nature). Man is completely unaware of his real nature, which is love and compassion. He is so much immersed in selfishness that every activity he undertakes is only for furthering his own interests and accumulating possessions for himself. Even the love that man displays towards other persons is with a selfish motive of gaining something out of them and not for the other person's sake.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 19th, 2007 (Ladies Day)
This visible universe is made up of three Gunas (Sathva, Rajas and Thamas). This is the reason for describing the cosmos as 'Sthree'. The term 'Sthree' has three components: “Sa", "Tha" and "Ra". "Sa" signifies the Sathva Guna. This comprises qualities like forbearance, compassion, and love. "Tha" signifies the Thamo Guna which includes qualities like modesty, bashfulness, fear and patience. "Ra" signifies the Rajo Guna represented by qualities such as courage, sacrifice and the adventurous spirit. Every being born in the world has feminine qualities. Merely on the basis of the physical form, a distinction is made between men and women. The three qualities in the term 'Sthree' are to be found both in men and women.
-SAI BABA


Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 20th, 2007
In the Bhagavad Gita, the Lord declared : "Bheejam maam sarva bhootanam" meaning "I am the seed (source) of all the beings. The tree consists of branches, leaves, flowers and fruits, all of which have grown out of a small seed. Every fruit of that tree has the same kind of seed. Contemplate a while on the magnificent multitude of life in all its rich variety that has come out of the single seed of God. Visualise the immanent Divinity in them. At once, you will be filled with humility, love and wisdom.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 21st, 2007
The duration of life is under the control of He who gave life in the first place, the Creator. It does not depend on the calories of food consumed or the quality of drugs that are injected, or the qualification of the physician who prescribes the medicines. The chief causes of ill-health and death are fear and loss of Faith. If one concentrates on the Atma (soul) that is beyond diminution, senility and destruction, one can conquer Death. Therefore, the most effective prescription for all kinds of illnesses is the administration of 'Atma Vidya' or the Knowledge of the Self.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 22nd, 2007 (Sri Sai University Convocation)
The future of a nation depends on its youth. The strength of the youth lies in their spirit of patriotism. The primary duty of the youth is to render service to the society. The physical and mental strength of the youth is the foundation on which a nation is built. Wake up from the slumber of selfishness and narrow-mindedness and resolve to serve the nation. Perform all activities keeping the esteem and honour of the nation uppermost in your heart. It is unbecoming of the youth to forget divinity and the goal of life, and to waste time in physical and materialistic pursuits. The youth should express human qualities by cultivating noble character and by rendering service to the society. They should understand that the well-being of the individual lies in the safety and security of the nation.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 23rd, 2007 (82nd Birthday of Sai Baba)
This is the human form in which every Divine entity, every Divine Principle, that is to say, all the names and forms ascribed by man to God are manifest. Do not allow doubt to distract you. If you fill your heart with steady faith in My Divinity, you can win the vision of My Reality. Instead, if you swing like a pendulum of a clock, one moment devotion, moment disbelief, you can never succeed in comprehending the Truth and attaining bliss. You are very fortunate that you have a chance to experience the bliss of the vision of the Sarva Devata Swarupa (the form which is the embodiment of all gods) now, in this very life.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 24th, 2007
Man is the embodiment of Sath-Chith-Ananda (Being-Awareness-Bliss). But he is unable to recognise his true identity because egoism and possessiveness, pomp and pride envelop man's true form of Sath-Chith-Ananda. When he is able to get rid of attachment and hatred, egoism and acquisitiveness, he will recognise his divine nature. The Divine within is covered by these tendencies like ash over a burning charcoal. When the ash is blown away, the fire will reveal itself.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 25th, 2007
Detachment, faith and love – these are the pillars upon which peace rests. Of these, faith is crucial, for without it all spiritual discipline is empty. Detachment alone can make spiritual discipline effective, and love is what leads one quickly to God. Faith feeds the agony of separation from God; detachment canalises it along the path of God, and love lights the way. God will grant you what you need and deserve; there is no need to ask, no reason to grumble. Be content. Nothing can happen against His will.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 26th, 2007
The Vedas have held forth the message of people living in amity, striving together for common ends and sharing the fruits of their co-operative efforts. They have also proclaimed the omnipresence of the Divine. The cosmic form of the divine encompasses every being in the universe. Forgetting the truth - "Sarvam Vishnumayam Jagath", that the Divine is immanent in the Cosmos, people search for the Divine. Every human being is a spark of the Divine. Hence, there should be no ill-will towards anyone.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 27th, 2007
Devotion to the Lord is really a form of discipline for reaching the goal. The seeker should not stop with the acquisition of devotion, nor pay so much attention to the love he has for the Lord, but rather on the love and grace the Lord bestows on him. One should always be eager to find out what behaviour and what actions will be most pleasing to the Lord. Inquire about that, yearn for that, and carry out the things that will secure that objective. But people do not generally follow this ideal. They pay more attention to the love that the devotee has for the Lord and, in the process, do not pay much attention to the righteousness and the work that the Lord appreciates. Whatever a devotee does, plans or observes should draw down the grace of God. One should not be subject to one’s own will but be in accordance with His Will. The devotee should test every thought and feeling on the touchstone of the Lord’s declared preferences.
-SAI BABA



November 28, 2007
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 28th, 2007
Spiritual pride is the most poisonous of all varieties of pride; it works insidiously and ruins the person harbouring it. Always be aware that you are but an instrument in the Divine Mission of Dharmasthapana (re-establishment of righteousness). Try to become better and efficient instruments in the Divine hands. The hand that wields the instrument knows how and when it has to be applied.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 29th, 2007
The chief means by which you can detach your mind from the distractions of the world and attach yourself to the search for God are: Yoga and Thyaga. Kama (desire) has to be got rid of by Thyaga (renunciation) and Rama (God) has to be secured by Yoga (the conjunction of all your faculties for a spiritual purpose). Desire dulls the intelligence; it perverts judgment; it sharpens the appetite of the senses; it lends a false lure to the objective world. When desire disappears or is concentrated on God, intelligence shines in its pristine splendour; and that splendour reveals the God present within and outside. That is 'Atma-Sakshatkara' or Self-realization.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Nov. 30th, 2007
You should be prepared to face every challenge of life with courage. Courage is the key to success. Life is bound to offer all kinds of difficulties, but you should not quail before them. Face every ordeal with fortitude. Nowadays, people get easily depressed and confused when they encounter difficulties. Depression leads to frustration. This is not the way to face the challenges of life. You should develop the courage to go through the adventure of life. Adhering to truth, cherishing love in your heart, cultivating fortitude, face life with firm determination and steady vision. Such a life will result in fulfilment. The rewards of life can only be got through strenuous effort.
-SAI BABA