Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 1st, 2008
When an iron filing comes in contact
with a magnet, the iron filing also gets the properties of a
magnet. Likewise, the knower of Brahman (the Universal
Absolute) becomes Brahman. You are all children of
immortality, you are eternal. The relationship between you
and God is eternal. The body changes through many births,
but the mind and deeds continue from birth to birth. Just as
an accountant totals the accounts of the day and carries the
balance over onto the next day, our mind follows to the next
life. You should be able to control the mind by controlling
the senses, then you can merge in truth and experience
oneness with God.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 2nd, 2008
The cause of man’s suffering is that he
has constricted his love to himself and his family. He
should develop a broad feeling that all are his brothers and
sisters. Expansion of love is life; contraction of love is
death.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 3rd, 2008
Life becomes sweeter with a little dose
of denial; if you satisfy all your desires, life begins to
turn insipid. Deny yourselves many of the things your mind
runs after and you will find that you become tough enough to
bear both good fortune and bad.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 4th, 2008
Compassion towards all creatures is the
greatest virtue; willful injury to any creature is the worst
vice. Know this to be true; spread love and joy through
compassion, and be full of joy and peace yourself. You do
not have joy and peace now, mainly because your vision is
warped and blurry. It is directed towards the faults and
failings of others, instead of towards one’s own. Really
speaking, inquiry and investigation should begin with
oneself. For what we see in others is the reflection of our
own selves, our own prejudices and preferences.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 5th, 2008
Human existence is enveloped in
infatuation (Moha). When one frees oneself from this
infatuation, one will be able to experience true happiness.
This infatuation breeds egoism and possessiveness, which
bring about the loss of one’s name and fame. One who is
filled with ego will be unable to experience love from
others. It is therefore essential to overcome this
infatuation. By conquering infatuation, one becomes
endearing to others.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 6th, 2008
Easwaramma Day
Be one a great scholar or an officer
having high authority, one is but a child to one’s mother.
Those who forget their duty toward their mother are sure to
lose themselves in wilderness. You are but a reflection of
your mother. Therefore, first of all you should carry out
your duty toward your mother and make her happy.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 7th, 2008
You feel the presence of God when
silence reigns. In the excitement and confusion of the
marketplace, you cannot hear His Footfall. He is
Shabdabrahma, resounding when all is filled with silence.
That is why I insist on silence, the practice of low speech
and minimum sound. Talk low, talk little, talk in whispers,
sweet and true.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 8th, 2008
The Deha (body) is a vehicle that even
gods aspire to possess. You know that gods seek to come into
human form so that they could utilize the intelligence,
discrimination, detachment, etc., that the human body alone
is capable of exercising, to realise the Ultimate Reality,
which when known makes everything else known. If only he
intensifies his thirst for God, he can live in perpetual
content, instead of grovelling in perpetual discontent,
pining for trivial satisfactions. The Deha has to be
nourished so that man can reach the Dehi, the real
indweller.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 9th, 2008
The lotus in the heart of man pines for
the Sun, the splendour of the Lord. But to attain it is
hard. Withdrawal of all affection towards the world alone
can win it. God is the nearest and dearest entity, but
ignorance hides Him from the eye. The love that God bears
man is unequalled; yet, He appears to man as a distant,
formidable, unapproachable phenomenon. The stars appear as
dots of light, for they are at a great distance from us. So
too God appears insignificant or ineffective to many,
because they are keeping themselves too far from Him. If
some people say there is no God, it only means they are at
too great a distance to be aware of Him.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 10th, 2008
The Vedas are for all mankind; they
have prayers for peace, subjugating the anger of the
elements and of human communities; they invoke the forces of
nature to be calm and beneficent; so, the paaraayanam
(recitation) of the Vedas promotes world peace and human
welfare.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 11th, 2008
A green gourd sinks in water; but a dry
one floats. Become dry, rid yourselves of attachments,
desires, avoid anxieties, worries. Then you can float
unaffected on the waters of change and chance. Even water,
when it becomes steam, can rise into the sky. Become light,
lose weight, bale out so that you may rise higher and
higher. Yoga is defined as chiththa vriththi nirodha--the
prevention of impulses that agitate the inner consciousness
of man. These impulses add to the ballast. Be free from
desires that drag you down; have only the yearning to come
face to face with the Truth. That Truth is shining inside
you, waiting to be discovered.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 12th, 2008
The first stage is karma-jijnaasa---the
execution of karma (action) on proper lines, with proper
mental attitude; then comes dharma-jijnaasa--the observance
of moral codes for the upkeep of society and the discharge
of one's duties and obligations; last comes Brahma-jijnaasa
- resulting in the appreciation of Naamasmarana (repetition
of the Lord's Name) as the primary sadhana.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 13th, 2008
God is the Antharyaami (Indweller), and
so, when He is sought in the outer world He cannot be
caught. Love Him with no other thought; feel that without
Him nothing is worth anything; feel that He is all. Then you
become His and He becomes yours. There is no nearer kinship
than that. You have come from God; you are a spark of His
Glory; you are a wave of that Ocean of bliss; you will get
peace only when you again merge in Him. Like a child who has
lost his way, you can have joy only when you rejoin your
mother.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 14th, 2008
You should not let any weakness in you
dissuade you from the right path. If in a big tank there is
a small hole, all the water will flow out. In the same
manner, even if you have a small sensory desire in you, then
all that you have learnt will be of no avail. Attraction for
the world distracts you from the reality. You should guard
yourselves by desisting error and resisting evil. Good work
and selfless love will help you to tread the path of wisdom.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 15th, 2008
Education does not consist in the
accumulation of information and facts from a multitude of
books. Reading of books can only enrich you in the
information that you may gather but can never give or
promote good qualities. Good education is a process by which
character is improved and by which one will be able to use
one's intelligence and sharpen one's mind so as to
distinguish right from wrong. It is only when the contents
of education are closely linked with ideals of sacrifice,
forbearance, truth, and love that the youth will get the
benefit of education. Students will never get any benefit
out of education if it is devoid of these noble principles.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 16th, 2008
In the spiritual sphere, the
responsibility for success or failure is entirely one's own.
You have no right to shift it on to others. The fire will
rage only as long as it is fed with fuel. Hence, do not add
fuel to the fire of the senses. Detach the mind from the
evanescent and attach it to the eternal. Plant the seedling
of Bhakti (devotion) by the practice of Namasmarana
(remembering the Lord's name). That seed will grow into a
mighty tree with the branches of virtue, service, sacrifice,
love, equanimity, fortitude, and courage.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 17th, 2008
You are awake when you feel that you
have full knowledge; but, when awake, you are aware only of
the many, not of the One. It is only when you are in deep
sleep that all the multiplicity vanishes; then you are not
aware of the world and of your deluded picture of it.
Examine even while awake the stages of dream and deep sleep
and realise that wakefulness deludes the seeker of Truth;
the senses are deceptive; they are inefficient instruments.
Mind does not have any powers. The only power is Atma Shakti,
the power of Atma. Mind has no form. Mind can be said to be
woven of desires. The Atma shines on the heart, whether the
heart be pure or impure. However, it would be best if the
heart is purified and if the strongest desire is for God.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 18th, 2008
Forbearance is one of the most
important qualities that you should posses, and it is
absolutely essential on the spiritual path. It is by putting
yourself under test in difficult circumstances that you can
cultivate this quality of forbearance. There is nothing
extraordinary about returning good for good, but doing good
in return for bad, that is something great, and the practice
of such a virtue requires a great deal of skill. However
much other people may criticize you, however much they may
comment and condemn, you should never lose your forbearance.
You should remain unperturbed and continue to enjoy inner
peace.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 19th, 2008
Budda Poornima
Buddha undertook various spiritual
practices in order to realize his true Self. But none of
these practices could show him the path to Nirvana
(liberation). Ultimately, he realized that Nirvana lies in
making use of the five senses in a sacred manner. He
understood that Japa (repetition of God’s name), Dhyana
(meditation), Yajna (ritual of sacrifice), Yoga, etc. were
mere physical activities. These spiritual practices are
needed only for those who are attached to the body. One who
abides in the Self need not undertake any of these
practices. Buddha taught that Nirvana can be attained only
by cultivating Samyak Drishti (sacred vision), Samyak Vaak
(sacred speech), Samyak Shravanam (sacred listening), Samyak
Bhavam (sacred feeling) and Samyak Kriya (sacred action).
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 20th, 2008
We should try and seek fulfilment in
our everyday life by moulding our mundane activities on
spiritual values. You must have your hands in society and
your heads in the forest. That is to say, whatever the
activities with which you are occupied, you must be
steadfast in holding on to spiritual ideals. This alone is
the true spiritual exercise, which will bestow lasting peace
on you. Remember that you are the Atma (spirit). All your
spiritual exercises should be directed towards establishing
yourself in this firm conviction and unwavering faith,
culminating in your life’s fulfilment. All your senses
should be sanctified by offering the actions performed
through them to God.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 21st, 2008
One’s Sadhana (spiritual exercise)
should be pleasant and moderate. Take the middle course;
that will yield maximum benefits. The craving for sense
objects cannot be given up fully; so transform it into an
instrument for worship. Dedicate all efforts to the Lord.
Accept all achievements and failures as proofs of the Lord’s
grace.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 22nd, 2008
Do not seek to discover or discuss the
evil in others, for the attempt will tarnish your own mind.
When you are engaged in searching for the faults and
failings of others, you are paving the way for developing
those faults and failings in yourself. Dwell on the good in
others and, in time it will prove to be an asset to you. The
goodness latent in you will then be encouraged to sprout and
blossom. Every thought leaves an impression on the mind.
Ideas that are opposed to spiritual tendencies, that narrow
the limits of love, that provoke anger or greed, or that
cause disgust – these have to be shut out. This is a very
essential discipline.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 23rd, 2008
The chief goal of man is to practice
and propagate the principle of truth. One has to practice
truth before preaching it. Come what may, one should have
the courage and conviction to tread the path of truth. Even
at the cost of food, raiment and shelter, even at the cost
of one’s own life, one should be prepared to practice truth
and righteousness.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 24th, 2008
Dwell always on noble thoughts. When
air fills a balloon, it takes the form of the balloon. The
mind assumes the form of the objects with which it is
attached. If it gets fixed on petty things, it becomes
petty; if on grand things, it becomes grand. The camera
takes a picture of whatever it is pointed at; so take care
before you click. Discriminate before you develop
attachment. When you develop attachment towards family,
wealth, properties, etc., you will come to grief when these
decline. But if you develop attachment towards God, you will
grow in love and splendour.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 25th, 2008
Man has in him the capacity to grow
into a pure Divine personality. But, due to ignorance and
waywardness, he has become stunted. He has chained himself
to low ideals and so, he has fallen into fear and grief. The
Upanishads exhort man to awaken and become master of himself
- "Utthishtta, jaagratha, praapya vaaraan nibodhatha!"
(Arise, Awake and stop not until the goal is reached!). Man
is overcome by the sleep of ignorance and has forgotten the
true values of life. He is obsessed only with material
progress. Unless he is awakened to the spiritual values of
life, there cannot be any peace and prosperity in the world.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 26th, 2008
The flames of anger, pride, hatred,
envy are more devastating than other fires; they arise in
the mind stealthily and in spurts; they are ever demanding
more and more to feed upon. Fire is called 'Anala' in the
Bhagavad Geetha, for 'Anala' means, 'not enough'. You dread
fire when it leaps at a distance; what then is to be said
when it is inside your very self? How to put out these awful
flames? Well, Sanathana Dharma (the ancient spiritual code)
has certain extinguishers tested by experience and
guaranteed by sages. They are Sathya (Truth), Dharma
(Righteousness), Shanti (Peace) and Prema (Love). Saturate
your heart with these and you are rendered 'fireproof'.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 27th, 2008
Anger and hatred are useful sometimes
like the hiss of the cobra to keep the intruders away. They
can be used to ward off the evil that stalks the Sadhaka
(spiritual aspirant). Be angry at things that hinder your
spiritual growth; hate the bad habits that torment you.
Cultivate Jnana (Supreme Knowledge) and visualise the Lord
in all the things and activities. That makes the human birth
worthwhile. Do not seek faults in others; for 'others' are
but manifestations of the Lord you are seeking to realise.
It is your own fault that you see reflected in others.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 28th, 2008
Two things are essential for happy
life. Dhaanya and Dhyaana. Dhaanya (food grains) for the
sustenance of the body and Dhyaana (meditation) for entering
the temple of the Lord within you and merging in His Glory.
The sages of yore retired into the silence of the forest and
by means of hard mental toil won for mankind the great
treasure of spiritual experience and inspiration. The reason
for their taking refuge in lonely places was to keep the
senses away from things that delight and distract, to escape
the infection that will damage the springs of joy. Their
sole purpose was to learn the secret of liberation for the
benefit of humanity.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 29th, 2008
Know that the real 'You' is deathless;
make death a sublime act of liberation. Such knowledge can
come only through a life devoted to Dharmanishta (steady
pursuit of the moral code) and Karmanishta (steady devotion
to the duties of one's stage of life). These two must end in
the evolution of Brahmanishta - the steady contemplation of
the One Basis of all this seeming multiplicity, namely,
Brahman. The Nishta (discipline) becomes steady by practice
and your separate individual existence is merged in the
great deluge of wisdom, which merges you in Him.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 30th, 2008
Bhakti (devotion) is defined as a means
of discovering the Divine reality within each being. Four
steps are laid down in the scriptures to help man succeed in
this effort - discrimination between the permanent and the
ephemeral; withdrawal from the process of catering to the
senses; positive control of the feelings, thoughts and
pursuits, and incessant yearning for liberation from all
bonds. Bhakti is the urge which manifests as all these four
endeavours. It directs man to have God ever in mind and to
cultivate love for God within him.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at
Prasanthi Nilayam - May 31st, 2008
The Universe is the field where God
sports. Be aware of this fact in every moment of
consciousness and there is nothing more you need for a happy
existence. For, you will then contact God in everything,
through every thought, at every place and at very moment.
His glory is evident in the smallest flower and the most
distant star. The joy that you can derive from the
contemplation of these proofs of providence is
indescribable. Lord Krishna has said in the Bhagavad Geetha
that He is ever by the side of the joyous being. Be joyful
yourself and share it with others. Limited happiness arising
out of self-centeredness should be given up.
-SAI BABA
