Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 1st, 2009
Truly speaking, nothing new has happened today. Do not wait for the celebration of something new in Time until the minutes, the hours, the days, the months add up to a year. Celebrate the immediately succeeding second by an honest effort to get lasting joy. There is no touch of meanness in trying to get joy or Ananda. It is only the means that make it unworthy and futile. As a matter of fact, it is to fill himself with Ananda that man has come to this world, equipped with speech, mind, intelligence and conscience. Only man has the chance and the capacity among all living beings. But man has forgotten his goal and is wandering in the wilderness of trivial pleasures.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 2nd, 2009
Strict adherence to Truth and practice of Dharma (right conduct) may entail great hardship, but having in view the bliss that awaits one in the end, one can put up with that and bear it gladly. Only the intelligent can liberate themselves by knowing the Truth. The rest will remain bound.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 3rd, 2009
All persons are afflicted by the disease of birth and death, and therefore entitled to the
drug called Brahmavidya (spiritual knowledge), which is its effective cure. According to the stage of realization and the degree of development in spiritual discipline attained by each, and to the extent of assimilation of the drug, each person will improve in health, that is to say, in peace and equanimity.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 4th, 2009
When you are immersed in deep sleep, what happens to your joys and sorrows, your profits and losses? They have no reality then; nor have they any reality later. At both times they are but the creations of your fancy. He who knows this secret will always exult in the joy of one's Inner Self.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 5th, 2009
What is Mounam (silence)? Not merely keeping the mouth shut! It means getting beyond the influence of all the senses and being always established in the consciousness of one's own Reality. When the mind withdraws from the outer world, the tongue too becomes silent. All other senses follow suit. That is genuine Mounam.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 6th, 2009
Merely theoretically knowing Brahman (Divinity) leads to nowhere. You may even know that there is Ananda or bliss in this. All this is of no use. You have to dedicate your life to win that bliss; enter upon the discipline needed to acquire it and experience it. Only then do you deserve the grace of the Lord and the attainment of Brahman. Only then can you experience true Ananda.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 7th, 2009
The Atma is formless. It is separate from the body that it inhabits. The body is subject to birth, growth and decay, but the Atma is free from all this. The Atma has no desires, no impulses, no cravings. It is above and beyond all the attributes. The Prakrithi (creation) is the ocean. Purusha (creator) is as a lotus on water, unaffected, unattached and unruffled.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 8th, 2009
Philosophy that cannot be understood, scriptures that are not practised, the present world is full of these. It is a waste of time to talk of them. Real change must be made in the daily conduct and behaviour of man, for these are within the experience of all. They can be easily practised and their purpose grasped. In every little activity and word, one should discriminate and adopt the best. That is the sign of the genuine Sadhaka (spiritual aspirant).
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 9th, 2009
Genuine Shanti (peace) is won by the control of the senses. By calming the mental agitations that surge like waves, levelling the swirls and whirls of likes and dislikes, love and hate, sorrow and joy, hope and despair, Shanti is earned and maintained. To get Shanti, Prema (love) is the only means. The fuel of Prema yields the Divine flame of Shanti. Prema brings about unity of all mankind, and this unity combined with spiritual knowledge will bring about peace.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 10th, 2009
Even pure desires are a bondage. But they are not hindrances, however many they may be. The purest of desires, the craving for Moksha or liberation, has also to disappear in time. Only then can you become one with the Divine. One attains a stage when neither good nor bad will attract or repel.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 11th, 2009
Man needs a healthy body in order to have a healthy mind filled with good thoughts. It must be recognised that the purpose of sports and music is to confer health and happiness on man. There are three benefits to be derived from sports and games: team spirit, mutual understanding and joy. Even if men speak different languages and differ in their habits and cultures, in the field of sports they have a common bond, a spirit of camaraderie. True education consists in the cultivation of good thoughts and acquiring good qualities like truthfulness, devotion, discipline, and dedication. These are also the qualities that should be acquired through sports and games. These qualities serve to impart health and joy to the subtle body.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 12th, 2009
With the amulet of Jnana (spiritual wisdom) around his arm, man can escape the evil influence of the vile stars called sensual attractions. But of the boldness born of the consciousness of Jnana, one should not give free vent to the senses. One should always be vigilant regarding the outer world. Rather, one should at all times be immersed in the contemplation of one's Inner Reality. That is the sign of the knower of the Higher Truth.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 13th, 2009
He who has subdued the mind will be the same in good times and bad. Grief and joy are but alterations of the mind. It is only when the mind is associated with the senses and the body that it is affected. Impulses and desires have to be sublimated in order to achieve mastery over the mind. Desire excite the mind and make it rush towards the senses. It is not enough if only one sense is conquered, all of them should be mastered completely.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 14th, 2009
Sankranthi day marks the arrival in the farmers' houses of the grains that are the fruit of their labours. It is also a cherished day of rest after a period of hard work when they can enjoy peace of mind. "Samyak kranthi iti Sankranthi." Sankranthi confers peace and heralds a welcome change. It brings out the inner joy in people. It effects a change in lifestyle. It generates sacred thoughts. Pray wholeheartedly for the welfare of humanity. You can be happy only when the world is happy. There is an intimate and inseparable relationship between you and the world. Chant the Divine Name. Pray for the welfare of the world and participate in service activities.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 15th, 2009
To a person who has no faith in righteousness, the joy derived from its observance is incomprehensible. To dilate upon it before such a person is as useless a venture as blowing a conch before a person who is stone deaf. So when righteousness is taught to a person, ascertain whether that person has faith and earnestness, and the eagerness to practise it. Only such persons must be dealt with.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 16th, 2009
The true Dharma (right conduct) lies in being immersed in Atmic bliss, the Inner Vision, the steady faith in the identity of one's real nature with the Absolute and the realization that all is Brahman (Divinity). These four constitute authentic Dharma. The aim of Dharma is to make the individual give up the attachment to external nature and the illusion it causes. It makes the individual realize its Reality, or rather, un-realize what it had up to now taken to be real, so that it may stand revealed in its genuine identity.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 17th, 2009
You may be performing a number of spiritual practices, but do not feel proud of them. Firstly, purify your heart. Do not give scope for the foul smell of worldly desires. Fill your heart with the fragrance of virtues. You do not get much benefit by merely reading books or listening to discourses. And, what is the use of chanting the Divine Name with a polluted mind? Today the world is afflicted with all types of pollution. Man’s thoughts, words and deeds are also polluted. Make your hearts pure. Develop Shraddha (steadfastness) and Bhakti (devotion) in you, for Shraddhavan Labhate Jnanam (with faith, wisdom is won).
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 18th, 2009
In daily practice, when acts are motivated by the basic principle of the Reality of the Atma, every act becomes an act of Dharma (righteousness). Such an act will bless one with the fruit of Shanti (peace). But when acts are motivated by convenience and selfish interest, it becomes pseudo-Dharma. It is then a bondage, however attractive it may be.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 19th, 2009
One should realize that just as the body can be healthy only so long as the blood is pure, real bliss can be experienced only when the mind is filled with thoughts of God. Divinity cannot be discovered by experiment. To realize this inherent divinity in man the royal path is the path of spirituality. The nine forms of devotion mentioned in the scriptures may not directly reveal God, but they do show the path to God-realization. Of these, chanting the name of the Lord is the simplest. Whatever form of worship, penance or meditation one may adopt, the foundation is the Lord's name. Chanting the Lord's name is essential for crossing the turbulent ocean of life.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 20th, 2009
The essence of all religions, the message of all scriptures and the destiny of all mankind is the same. But because of selfishness, narrow-mindedness and self-interest, religion is used as a pretext for promoting differences and conflicts. Morality, integrity, righteousness, charity, truth, forbearance and non-violence are basic tenets of all religions. But over the years, men have forgotten these truths and have fostered divisive tendencies in the place of unity. As a result, respect for human values has vanished. It is essential to recognise the Divine unity that suffuses all the apparent diversity in human existence.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 21st, 2009
Losing Vishwasa (faith in God) amounts to losing Shwasa (life-breath) itself. Come what may, one should continue to do one's Sadhana (spiritual exercise) with unflinching faith. This is the sign of true devotion. Devotion does not constitute merely singing Bhajans, performing rituals and chanting the Divine Name. You should firmly install Divinity in your heart. You should take care that worldly desires find no place in your mind. Burn to ashes all desires completely in the fire of wisdom. Even if a trace of worldliness is left in you, it will multiply manifold and lead you astray. In order to free yourself from bad deeds and bad habits, make sure that you do not have even a trace of desire in you.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 22nd, 2009
Developing attachment to persons and possessions is the cause of all sorrow. By reducing attachments and developing love for God, one can reduce misery and experience more happiness. The more one loves God, the more the bliss one experiences. Men are plunged in misery because they hanker after the physical instead of yearning for God. If men transform their desire for material objects into the desire for the Supreme, they will enjoy immense happiness. All that is necessary is to see the Divine in everything. This is true devotion. Work will then turn into worship and every act rendered holy.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 23rd, 2009
Good and evil, happiness and misery, merit and sin depend on man's actions. As is the action, so is the result. But today man ignores the law of action and acts as he pleases. It is easy to indulge in sinful deeds but it is extremely difficult to bear the bad results they yield. The Upanishads say, "Thasmai Namah Karmane" (my salutations to action). Offer your Namaskar (salutation) to the action you perform. What is Namaskar? It is giving up the sense of ego. You should offer your salutation to the action you perform so that it becomes sacred, brings you good name and contributes to the welfare of the world. One who aspires for the welfare of the world should see to it that his thoughts and actions are in accordance with his noble aspirations.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 24th, 2009
Attachment to the world can be destroyed only by attachment to the Lord. If you want to adhere to Sathya (truth) and Dharma (righteousness), you must see in every act, the reflection of the Glory of the Atma. Then attachment to the Lord will transmute the attachment to the world in to a pure offering.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 25th, 2009
The mind should be turned away from mundane desires by constant contemplation on God. That is the way to transcend the dualities of pain and pleasure. Man has to wake up from the sleep of ignorance and realize his divine essence. Men today are filled with fear because they have no confidence in themselves. A bird can brave a storm because it has faith in its wings. But man succumbs to the slightest reverses of fortune because he does not rely on the power of the Spirit. People must rely primarily on the power of the Divine. With confidence in the Self, they should devote themselves to good deeds. This is the purpose of life.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 26th, 2009
If you want peace to reign in the world, then you should first develop peace in yourself. Where is peace? It emanates from our heart. The heart is the source of peace, truth, righteousness and love. You are ignoring the heart and are searching for peace in the external world. Only when you fill your heart with love will there be peace in the world. Whatever work you do, do it with love. The world is in turmoil today as man lacks pure love. Peace will reign supreme in this world only when man develops pure love.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 27th, 2009
The attainment of the Absolute does not depend solely on mastery of Brahmavidya (spiritual knowledge). It is beyond the reach of mere study, scholarship or intellectual quest. It is only by Upasana (spiritual practice or worship) that it can be realized. If a scholar with all the weight of learning also gets immersed in Upasana, his life is indeed sanctified.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 28th, 2009
Sadhana (spiritual practice) must be done with complete faith and without any room for doubt. Cultivate love for God. There is nothing greater than that. As your love grows stronger, the Spirit in you will shine brighter. Spiritual growth calls for restraint on desires. In addition, you also have to get rid of attachments and aversions. The three great enemies of man are Kama (desire), Krodha (anger) and Lobha (greed). Desire destroys devotion, anger annihilates wisdom, and greed poisons every action. These three vices are deleterious to Sath-Karma (good deeds), Upasana (devotion) and Jnana (spiritual wisdom). The only way to get rid of them is to burn them in Prema-Agni (the fire of Divine Love).
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 29th, 2009
If you earn the wealth of pure love, you become the richest person in the world. He who is contented is the richest man in the world and the one who has many desires is the poorest man in the world. Today, man is filled with desires from top to toe. As long as one has desires, one can never be happy and peaceful. Give up desires and see for yourself how much love and bliss you get. The bliss you experience will be far superior to all the happiness you have experienced before. All the bliss is within you. But you are imagining that it is outside. What is outside is only the reflection, reaction and resound of what is within you.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 30th, 2009
Even the most comfortable house equipped with all the luxuries man craves for, cannot endow one with Shanti (peace and contentment). That can be won only by surrender to God, who is the very core of one's being. God is the source of contentment. Attaining Him, the spirit can be immersed in joy. God alone feeds all with Ananda (bliss). If God is not shining in the firmament of the heart, how can one even live?
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - January 31st, 2009
Mathru Devo Bhava, Pithru Devo Bhava (Revere your mother and father as God). You must understand that parents are verily God. If you make your parents happy, the whole world will be happy. It is meaningless to worship God without revering one's own parents. First of all, offer worship to your mother as she is the one who has given you birth. It is because of the nobility of the mother that the children attain good fortune. The parents have given you their blood, their wealth and have brought you up with great love and care, sparing no pains. So, you must love your parents and be grateful to them. That is true Bhakti (devotion). There is no greater Bhakti than this.
-SAI BABA