Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 1st, 2009
There is a creator behind this enchanting cosmos. He is Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent. He is worshiped as God using many names and in many forms by various people. Unity, brotherhood and devotion are essential for every human being. To promote these sacred qualities in mankind, some great souls sought to establish different religions. Religion is not a restrictive concept. Religion is intended to develop the human personality and indicate the basic guidelines for right living. Religion brings out the humanness in man and enables him to live in harmony with his fellowmen. It provides the link between the individual and the Divine. It demonstrates the unity that underlies the diversity in creation.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 2nd, 2009
If everything is dedicated to the Lord, there will be no room for worry or sorrow, or even of joy. If you rid yourself thus of attachment, your Shanti (peace) can never be disturbed. 'I', 'my', 'mine', 'you', 'yours' - when these ideas take hold of the mind, Shanti suffers a setback.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 3rd, 2009
Ravana was in no way inferior to Rama in terms of knowledge but sage Valmiki, the composer of Ramayana, described Ravana as a fool and extolled Rama as one of wisdom. The reason was that Rama put His knowledge into practice and led an exemplary life. On the other hand, Ravana did not practice the knowledge he acquired, became a slave to his senses and thus ruined himself, his kingdom, and his entire clan. Education is meant not to satisfy the senses but to make one transcend the senses and set an ideal to society. Human body is bound by senses, which are responsible for both good and evil. Hence, it is the foremost duty of man to make proper use of the senses.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 4th, 2009
It is only when the mind is completely under control that man can grasp his real identity. Then all troubles and travails, doubts and dilemmas, come to an end. Man then overcomes sorrow, delusion and anxiety. He is established in the holy calmness of Shanti (peace). Spiritual life is not a matter of meaningless talk. It is an experience of pure Ananda (bliss).
-SAI BABA






Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 5th, 2009
The fundamental ignorance called Maya (delusion) plays many tricks with you. It makes you believe the rope to be a snake and you run away in fright. It makes you imagine a lake of water where there are only the hot sands of the desert, and you run towards it to slake your thirst! And you call it, "mayaa," meaning, "through me," "for me," in Sanskrit, thus identifying yourselves with it, as if it is real and beneficial. The moment you realize it is illusory, it ceases to bother you. Maya creates the universe; it spreads before the mind the vast paraphernalia of the objective world. It is a Narthakee (dancer), an enchantress who entices the intelligence and traps the senses. This Na-rtha-kee can be subdued by Kee-rtha-na. Keerthana is the contemplation and singing of the glory of God.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 6th, 2009
To win perfect happiness, one has to follow the path of Bhakti (devotion), dedicating oneself fully to the Lord. It cannot be got by any other means. The path of Jnana (wisdom) is possible for only one in a million. Under present conditions, Jnana-marga (path of wisdom) is indeed very difficult. The Karma-marga (path of action) and Yoga-marga (path of mind control) are also full of obstacles. Therefore, Bhakti-marga (path of devotion) is the smoothest, the most conducive to success and yields infinite bliss.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 7th, 2009
The Vedas have taught the means to make life in the world pure and meaningful. They have declared: "Na karmanaa na prajayaa dhane na, thyaagenaike amrutatwamaanashuhu" (not through rituals, progeny or wealth, but only through sacrifice can immortality be achieved). A Thyagi (renunciant) does not hesitate even to sacrifice his body for others welfare. Sacrifice means something more than giving up of wealth, gold and material objects. Evil qualities like hatred, jealousy, wrath and malice which have become ingrained in man over many lifetimes should be discarded.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 8th, 2009
To earn Shanti (peace), its inveterate foe, anger, must be laid low. Anger enslaves man and befogs his understanding. When you are full of Bhakti (devotion), understanding becomes easy. The form of Bhakti known as Shanta Bhakti is the best path leading to eternal, everlasting Ananda (bliss). Live a life of high ideals; be always happy and contented.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 9th, 2009
You have today in the world, men of wealth, strength, scholarship and virtue. But there are few who have realized the Self. Ignoring the Self, of what avail are all other possessions, which are temporary and evanescent? Of what use is the knowledge about the world, when you are not aware of yourself? That is why Vedanta (Vedic Philosophy) calls upon each one to discover the truth about himself. Self-knowledge is the key to all knowledge. For this, you must approach the right person to teach you the means to discover your true Self. If you are not prepared to undertake this self-enquiry, cultivate faith, if not in God, at least in your own Self. The man who has no faith in himself can have no faith in anybody; he cannot have faith in God. Make Vishwasa (faith) your Shwasa (life breath).
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 10th, 2009
Shanti (peace) is the honey of Prema (love) in the enchanting flower of life. It is the prime need of the Yogi (spiritual master) and the Sadhaka (spiritual aspirant). Having acquired it, they can realize the Reality tomorrow, if not today. They should put up with all the obstacles in the way, and Shanti will give them the strength needed for this. Through Shanti alone can Bhakti (devotion) and Jnana (wisdom) strike root.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 11th, 2009
God is love incarnate. This love shines equally in every human being. The fragrance of a flower remains the same whether it is held in the right hand or the left. Likewise God has no distinctions such as the favored and the excluded. But narrow-minded persons cannot easily grasp the Divine's equal-mindedness. Everyone apprehends God's powers and attributes according to his own limited conceptions and experiences. Different people, depending on their own likes and dislikes, attribute the differences existing in their own minds to the Divine. God does not make distinctions such as the good and the bad, the desirable and the unwanted, the wicked and the virtuous. The sandalwood tree imparts its fragrance even to the axe that fells it. Likewise, God is ever prepared to love, foster and protect everyone equally.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 12th, 2009
All cravings and impulses rise up with overpowering strength like waves from the sea, roar in fury, and then subside in to calm waters. They do not confer peace. Wisdom lies in forgetting these waves and directing one's attention to the calm depths within. You can attain Shanti (peace) only if you dive in to the deep and undisturbed depths of the sea within, not by swimming around on the surface.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 13th, 2009
What is 'Moksha'? It is giving up of the 'Anatma', the unreal. Suppose you want a glass of fruit juice, unless you throw away the water already in the glass, you cannot pour juice in to the glass. Similarly, unless you give up worldly desires, 'Atmabhava' (spirituality) cannot take root in you. When you spend your hours immersed in thoughts about God, you become free from evil ways. You will not be tempted to abuse others or harm them in any way. You begin to live in Love, accepting all events as His gifts. Then your home verily becomes heaven on Earth; the joy that bubbles in your heart is the symbol of Vaikunta (abode of Lord Vishnu); the earnestness and care that you evince in your work will symbolize Kailasa (the abode of Lord Shiva).
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 14th, 2009
Tamil New Year & Vishu
Every man aspires for happiness and wants to avoid sorrow. But in this world, truth and untruth, righteousness and unrighteousness, joy and sorrow pass and change with time. Man should have faith in the ultimate principle out of which both good and evil arise. True man is the one who treats pain and pleasure equally. You should trust the Divine and experience His love in your hearts. In this world, the gain from sorrow is more than that out of happiness. The saints and sages of yore, who have become immortal in history, aspired for hardships rather than happiness. The joy that arises out of overcoming hardships is more lasting than that gained from happiness. Hence, we should not be averse to sorrow nor should we look for happiness alone.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 15th, 2009
You should not spend your time in idleness, saying to yourself that the Lord will come to your help when the need arises. You must rise and work. God helps those who help themselves, and He will help no other. Do the work that has fallen to your lot, and do it sincerely and efficiently.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 16th, 2009
It is the nature of a magnet to attract iron. But, if the iron is covered with rust, it will be unable to get attracted by that magnetic power. In man, greed for sensual pleasure is one of the causes for this harmful 'rust' to accumulate. Hence, care has to be taken to ensure that the rust never forms. Then, the iron piece called man, by contact with the magnet called God takes on the divine magnetic quality and attains the object of its quest. The rust of sensual greed can be kept at bay by keeping good company, and putting into practice the axioms of good conduct that one can imbibe from such sacred company.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 17th, 2009
While the Divine is thus all-pervasive, the ability to recognise this truth is not present in all. The fact is well known that fire is latent in wood. But on that basis, if one attempts to cook rice in a vessel, placing it on a lorry load of unlit wood, can the rice be cooked? Fire has two states - the inner and the outer. The fire that is invisible and latent is inner fire. This fire, though it is present, cannot burn anything. The external fire manifests its true form and can burn anything and reduce it to ashes. Likewise, the power to experience the omnipresent Divine and envision it internally is possessed by each one, while only some have the capacity to demonstrate it externally.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 18th, 2009
The awareness of Swaswaroopa (one's real nature) is true knowledge and devotion is the means to achieve this knowledge. The light of the sun is reflected by the moon. While the light from the sun is warm and bright, when the same light is radiated by the moon, it is cool and soothing. The same light is present in the sun and the moon; the principle that illumines both the sun and the moon is the Spirit (Atma-tatwa). The sun's light has been compared to Jnana (wisdom) and the moon's light to Bhakti (devotion). Jnana is effulgent, while Bhakti is blissful. Thus Bhakti and Jnana are the means to the same end.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 19th, 2009
The sages of India sought to know that knowledge which when gained, everything else becomes known. The expression of that discovery in practical life is Love; for, it is Love that creates, sustains and envelops all. Without Love, no one can claim to have succeeded in comprehending God and His handiwork, the Universe. God is Love, live in Love - that is the teaching of the sages. The heart has to be prepared by means of Namasmarana (constant repeating of the Name). This constitutes a Yoga in itself, 'Chittha shuddhi yoga', the path of Consciousness-cleansing." Charge every second of your time with the powerful Divine current that radiates from the Name.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 20th, 2009
All the myriad differences that one sees in the world are only varying manifestations of the one basic entity - Brahman (Godhead). A man who seeks to enjoy the fruit of a tree cannot be content with nourishing only the flowers. He has also to nourish the roots, the trunk, the branches, the leaves and the flowers. Likewise, the man who seeks the highest Jnana (wisdom) has to nourish the body, the senses and the feelings appropriately. God is the eternal Reality, without birth, growth or death, without a beginning or an end, and who is immutable. It is only bodies that are subject to change. The immutable Divine has to be experienced by making use of the body that is mutable.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 21st, 2009
In the heart of man, God resides along with the individual self, just as light and shade co-exist. Shade is caused by Light; it declares the presence of Light. They are fundamentally inseparable. So too, are the Jivi (individual self) and the Brahman (Universal Self) related to each other as One Inseparable Entity. The Jivi as the shadow exists in and through Brahman and partakes of the same Divine splendour. Every individual has to become aware of this identity. When the One is reflected in the many, in the multitude of Jivis, it appears as the Self in each, which watches unaffected as the Witness.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 22nd, 2009
Man's mind is too full of the world and desires demand too much of his time and energy. Engrossed in the analysis of the material world, he has lost all sense of sweetness and sublimity and truth has become just another word in the dictionary. Humility, patience and reverence have become irrelevant .The only ray of hope in this enveloping gloom of fear, hatred and persecution, is the Peace that one can win through self-control and Sadhana (spiritual endeavour). That Peace will pervade and purify the inner consciousness as well as the outer atmosphere.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 23rd, 2009
The Lord creates hostile forces to demonstrate the power of faith in the Divine and to confer peace and plenty on the believers. Just as a mother provides toys and sweets to a child for its pleasure, though they are of no use to her, God creates certain situations for the sake of the devotee, to bring out the depth of his devotion. Even in small matters, we find that their true nature is discovered only by experiencing the elements opposed to them. For instance, if one wants to develop physical strength, he has to subject the body to strenuous exercises. Even a diamond requires to be cut and polished to enhance its brilliance and value.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 24th, 2009
In rendering seva (selfless service), one should not think that their services should be confined to the poor and the destitute. There is no need to make any artificial distinction between the rich and the poor in the sphere of service. What matters is the service done to a person who needs it. Your concern should only be with what kind of service is required, when and where, and not the status or position of the person concerned. The primary requisite is a genuine spirit of love and camaraderie. If there is no feeling of kindness and compassion, whatever service that is done becomes an artificial exercise, done for getting publicity or recognition. Ostentation in rendering service is harmful as it will only inflate the ego.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 25th, 2009
See God in every one you meet; see God in everything you perceive. His Mystery is immanent in all that is material and non-material. The Universe is permeated by the Divine, it is an expression of His Mystery! Dip into the springs of joy within you and progress; do not stand still or recede. Every minute must mark a step forward. Rejoice that it is given to you to recognise God in all and welcome all chances to sing His Glory, to hear His miraculous stories, to share His presence with others.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 26th, 2009
Pleasure and sorrow are not inherent in the nature of man. They are products of the mind. Bliss is the true nature of man. But it can be realised only when the love of God is experienced. The sense of 'my-ness' has to be totally eradicated. The man who is filled with love has great peace of mind, purity of heart and is unruffled by any adverse circumstances, failures or losses. This fortitude is derived from love of the Lord, which endows him with self-confidence. Self-confidence generates an immense internal power. Everyone has to develop this power. Everyone has to develop this self-confidence so that the Atma-Ananda (bliss of the Self) may be experienced.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 27th, 2009
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 oneself. The senses should be regarded as instruments for rendering service to others. The foolish idea that happiness lies only in indulging in sensual pleasures should be given up. Only animals are content to derive satisfaction from the senses alone. Hence, every man should firmly declare, "I am a man and not an animal." Only when he has this firm conviction will man shed his animal nature and assert his humanness. Therefore, it is only when the senses are brought under control that the nature of Divinity can be comprehended.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 28th, 2009
Ponder over all the things for which you have cried so far. You will find that you have craved only for paltry things, for momentary distinctions, for fleeting fame. Instead, you should cry only for God, for your own cleansing and consummation. You should weep, for the six cobras that have sheltered themselves in your mind, poisoning it with their venom: Lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride and malice. Quieten them as the snake charmer does with his swaying flute. The music that can tame them is the Name of God. Thereafter, they become playthings; you can handle them as you please. When these are laid low, you will gain equanimity and you will remain unaffected by honour or dishonour, profit or loss, joy or grief.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 29th, 2009
Love is Supreme. Develop love in your hearts. Let love flow through every part of your being. Make love the reigning principle of your life. Develop love through love. This was the prayer that went forth from the hearts of Gopikas: "Oh Krishna, play on your flute so that our parched hearts may be flooded with your nectarine love and we may be filled with love in all that we think and do. Plant the seeds of love in our arid hearts so that the saplings of love may sprout and grow." To experience this joy, you have to develop firm faith in God and shed all fear. Cultivate Divine Love and experience this joy. Sanctify your lives by dedicating it to the Divine.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - April 30th, 2009
A true devotee should not have desires. But, is it possible for you, endowed as you are with a body, mind and senses, to be without desires? One is bound to have some desire or the other. On the one hand, there are desires pertaining to the senses that confer momentary joy. On the other hand, there is a desire to transcend the senses. Thus, people are filled with many desires. There is nothing wrong in having desires, but all of them must be pleasing to God. You should practise the eternal principles based on Truth, and dedicate all your activities to God. Lead your life without the feelings of 'I' and 'mine' and offer everything to God.
-SAI BABA