Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 1st, 2009
It does not matter what your activity is, or what name and form you have chosen. A chain is a chain whether of iron or gold. So, too, whether the work is of this type or that, so long as Atma Tatwa (Principle of Self) is the root, it is an act of Dharma (righteousness) beyond doubt. Such work will bless one with the fruit of Shanti (peace).
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 2nd, 2009
Whatever activity you undertake, dedicate it to God. All the powers in your body are the gifts of God. In fact, divinity pervades every inch, every cell and every atom of your body. If you waste such a divine power, it amounts to sacrilege. Dedicate your body, mind and intellect, in fact, everything of yours, to God. Wherever you are, in whatever circumstances you are placed in, do not ever forget God. Sarvada Sarvakaleshu Sarvatra Hari Chintanam (Everywhere, at all times, under all circumstances contemplate on God).
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 3rd, 2009
Be devoted to Me and receive grace from Me. To the extent to which you enthusiastically intensify and quicken this process of surrender, to that extent you will be successful and happy. Deliver all your anxieties, troubles, travails and desires to Me and in return receive joy, peace and strength from Me.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 4th, 2009
The service activities that you perform and the Bhajans that you sing will not suffice by themselves. You should first give up the feeling that you are serving others. That is very important. You are serving your own self when you serve others. You should consider all as yours. In fact, all beings are but the very forms of God. Hence, service rendered to humanity is service rendered to God. All service activities are meant to foster this feeling in you. You should plunge into the field of service with selfless love. The best way to love God is to love all and serve all. Your acts of service should be suffused with the spirit of love. Without the positive aspect of love, all the service you render becomes negative in nature-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 5th, 2009
It is only when the mind realizes that all this is Maya (illusion) that it will draw back its feelers from the sensory world and give up its worldly, selfish attitude. The nature of the mind is to waver, hesitate and flutter in its search for happiness and peace. When it realizes that the objects it runs after are transitory and meaningless, it gets suddenly ashamed and disillusioned. Then it begins to follow the Inner Consciousness.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 6th, 2009
Sath-Chith-Ananda (being-awareness-bliss) is the very nature of man. But man has forgotten his true nature and is wasting his time in the vain pursuit of fleeting pleasures. He is not able to realise the value of his innate nature. Once he realizes its value and experiences it, he can reach an exalted state. In fact, he becomes verily God. Man can accomplish any mighty task when he realizes his innate divinity. But man is not making any effort in this direction. He has become a slave to his senses, and is wasting his time on trivial matters. The primary duty of man therefore is to understand his true nature and put it into practice.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 7th, 2009
As long as you are overcome with fear and anxiety, you will not be able to accomplish anything. Be courageous! Know that you are the Atma, not this body; then you will be without fear. God can help you achieve great things, but only if you base your actions on true knowledge and remain fearless. Love God with steadfast devotion and faith, have fear of sin and practice morality in society. If you want morality in society, you should develop love for God. If you love God, you will have fear of sin. Today people without fear of sin commit heinous acts. This contradicts the very human nature.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 8th, 2009
Destroy Ajnana (ignorance) by means of instruction in the knowledge of the Atma. Strengthen the interest you are already endowed with towards the realisation of Brahman (God). Give up the attraction for evanescent and the false, the mirages created by fancy and fantasy. Turn your attention inwards, away from the external world.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 9th, 2009
Regard yourselves as children of God. There is really no difference between the Avatars (Divine Incarnations) and yourselves except with regard to the number of aspects of the Divine present in each one. These aspects can be enhanced by right conduct and by developing Divine love. That is not true love which wanes from moment to moment and waxes from time to time. True love is unchanging and shines brightly in the heart for all time. It is unaffected by joy and sorrow, praise and blame. Such love is true devotion. Love that grows or declines according to varying circumstances is not true love at all.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 10th, 2009
Treat your mind as a little boy. Bring up this boy lovingly so that it becomes wiser day by day. Caress it in to good ways making it aware that objects which are seen are products of one's illusion. Remove all its fears and foibles. Focus its attention on the Ultimate Goal only. Never deal forcibly with the mind. It will yield only to tenderness and patient handling. Correct its waywardness by inculcating the attitude of renunciation.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 11th, 2009
Do not lead a pompous life. Adambara (pomposity) is the root cause of Ashanti (restlessness). Give up Adambara and strive to attain Ananda (bliss). True bliss cannot be acquired from outside; it lies in your heart. In fact, bliss pervades the entire world. Your mental perversions are responsible for seeing evil in it. Hence, purify your mind. Only then can you become a true human being. Perform meritorious deeds. Speak good words. Lead a sacred life. In this manner, you can find fulfilment in life.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 12th, 2009
When the mind gives up attachment to the external objects, when it is filled with remorse, renunciation and understanding, when it is saturated with repentance for past foolishness, when it fosters progressive qualities of head and heart, then it truly becomes fit for merging with the divinity. In that state, it contemplates on divinity alone.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 13th, 2009
We see various objects in this world and are deluded that they are permanent. It is a grave mistake. Whatever is seen by the eyes is impermanent. Even our body is seen by the eyes; hence, it is also not permanent. It is a sign of ignorance to identify oneself with the body. For ages, man has been under the delusion that physical and ephemeral objects will give him happiness. True happiness results when man recognises the underlying eternal principle of Atma in this ephemeral world.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 14th, 2009
For the little sweetness that material objects give, Brahman (Divinity), the ocean of nectar is the cause. Association with the knowers of Brahman, discussion with them on the nature of the Absolute in a spirit of humility and earnestness, a thirst for realising the Reality, unwavering Prema (love) towards the Lord - these are characteristics of those established on the path of spirituality. Such people will not be affected by praise or derision, joy or sorrow, honour or dishonour, heat or cold, etc. They will tread the path of liberation free from all attachment.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 15th, 2009
You are born again and again, seeing, doing and experiencing what you have already seen, done, and experienced. You should realise that you are born not to be born again. You should see and experience that by which your life will find fulfilment. Once you have experienced the Atma, you do not need to experience anything else. That is the oneness of Atmic principle. In order to experience this eternal principle, you should give up body attachment and understand the truth that the Atma in you is the same as the one in others.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 16th, 2009
Every man and every living being aspires to attain peace and happiness. People pursue various paths to experience the everlasting bliss. Everyone aspires to know the objective of life. But they are not able to succeed in their endeavour. One in a million will persist with strong determination and will not give up till he realises the goal. Ordinary mortals will not make any efforts in this direction as they think it is something beyond their reach. They spend their lives in the pursuit of physical and ephemeral pleasures. They are under the delusion that food, raiment and shelter are the three main objectives of human life. They fail to realise that there is a higher purpose in life than this.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 17th, 2009
Difficulties come and go like passing clouds. You don't need to worry about them. Keep your vision fixed on the sun. Sometimes, clouds cover the sun. But, have patience. When the clouds move away, the sun will be visible again. In the same manner, the clouds of worldly delusion come in the way of Atmic vision. In such situations, you should not let your mind waver. Have patience. The 'clouds' will recede and the 'sun' will reappear in all its brilliance.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 18th, 2009
The same God dwells in all beings. There is no justification for differences on the basis of religion. It is attachment to the body which accounts for religious differences. Do not regard the body as permanent. It is a water bubble. The mind too is like a mad monkey. Don't follow either of them. Follow the conscience. Recognise the fact that the whole universe is within you. You have all the powers in you. They are derived from the Divine Spirit within you. Forgetting the supreme power of the Spirit, people rely on the powers of the body, the mind and the intellect.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 19th, 2009
Tell me your company and I shall tell you what you are. When you associate yourself with ephemeral things, the results also are bound to be so. You should develop friendship with Divinity, which alone is true and eternal. Divinity is very much present in you. The external world is subject to change. The world is nothing but a combination of matter. Everything in this world is transitory. Nothing is permanent. The unseen Atmic principle alone is true and eternal.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 20th, 2009
For transforming one's life, the first requisite is proper vision. This means that one should avoid seeing what is undesirable. Having been bestowed with the great gift of vision, one should strive to see only that which is sacred and pure. What man sees is like seeds sown in the heart. The heart determines the nature of one’s thoughts. The thoughts influence one's life. Evil scenes give rise to evil thoughts. Good scenes evoke good thoughts. When sacred scenes are implanted in the heart, there will be no room for bad feelings or thoughts to grow in it.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 21st, 2009
Any mighty task can be achieved by chanting the Divine Name. For spiritual practices like meditation and penance, a specific time and place are required. But for chanting the Divine Name, no such restriction need be followed. Wherever you are, whatever you may be doing, you can chant the Divine Name. Sarvada Sarva Kaleshu Sarvatra Hari Chintanam (everywhere, at all times and under all circumstances, contemplate on God).
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 22nd, 2009
Though axed and maimed by man, trees selflessly serve him by providing him fruits and shade. Rivers carry water to quench man's thirst and to cleanse his body. The cow also selflessly serves man by providing milk. Man should, in the first place, realize the truth that he has been endowed with the human body not for seeking his selfish ends but for serving others. Since man has gained his wealth, knowledge and skills from society, he has to discharge his debt to society by doing some good in return. A man without this supreme virtue of gratitude is worse than a cruel animal; his education and skills are a sheer waste. It is indeed by serving society that these acquire splendour and significance.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 23rd, 2009
Man should bring under his control the source of pleasure and pain. More than pleasure, it is pain that awakens the wisdom in man. If you study the lives of great men, you will find that it is out of trouble and pain that they derived wisdom. Without sorrow, there can be no wisdom. It is pain that teaches many lessons to man. Not realizing this profound truth, man pursues pleasure endlessly. No doubt, man needs to be happy. But how is happiness to be achieved? It is only when sorrow is overcome that man realizes happiness. Hence everyone should welcome sorrow in the same spirit in which he greets happiness. Pain and pleasure are intermingled. No one can separate them. Pleasure is never found separately by itself. When one is relieved of pain, one experiences pleasure.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 24th, 2009
When there is a downpour, the water that comes down is pure. The rain falls on mountains, plains and valleys. According to the region through which the rain water passes, its name and form undergoes changes. But due to these variations, it should not be thought that the water itself is different. Based on the teachings of the founders of different faiths, having regard to the requirements of the time and circumstance of particular countries, and keeping in view the specific needs of the people concerned, certain rules and regulations were laid down. On this account, one faith should not be considered superior and another inferior. Man's primary duty is to bear in mind the sacred truths they espouse and practise them in his life.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 25th, 2009
Yad bhavam thad bhavathi (One becomes what one thinks). Hence, people should see that their thoughts are pure and good. Human life is the expression of one's thoughts. Thoughts arising in the mind fill the atmosphere with waves of energy. Thought waves are very powerful. Hence, our thoughts should be sublime and sacred. No evil ideas should affect our thoughts. Evil thoughts inevitably lead to evil actions. When cruel thoughts enter the mind, men behave like cruel animals. When, instead, there are good and loving thoughts in a man, they divinise him and enable him to perform good and sacred acts. Hence, every man's heart should be filled with love, compassion and kindness.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 26th, 2009
If a man today is under the sway of sorrow and misery, his mind is responsible for it. Happiness and sorrow, affections and aversions, and the sensual pleasures that man experiences arise out of his mind. Since the mind is filled with the sense of duality you suffer all these. When the mind is trained to see the oneness of all creation, there will not be perversions of any kind. You should face everything in life with a smile. In this dualistic world, it is natural that gain and pain alternate. You cannot avoid it. You should neither despair when adversities confront you nor exult when fortune smiles on you. Adversity is a stepping-stone to eternal bliss.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 27th, 2009
Human body is meant to serve others, not to indulge in selfish deeds. Due to selfishness, one indulges in many sinful activities. Eschew selfishness, take to selfless service. Give up attachment to the body. Become attached to the Self. Understand that the same Atma (Self) exists in everybody. Though you find myriad bulbs glowing, the current that is passing through them is the same. Bodies are like bulbs, the principle of the Atma is the current that is present in them. With such a feeling of oneness, make efforts to alleviate the suffering of your fellowmen.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 28th, 2009
The same Atma, the same love and the same divinity is present in all beings. All are one. The heart is like a tank and all the senses are like taps. When the 'tank' is full of love, all that comes out of the 'taps' will also be love. Whatever you see in others is only a reflection of your inner being. Understand this truth. If you see evil in others, it is actually the reflection of your own evil feelings. What is outside is only the reflection, reaction, and resound of what is within you. If you wear blue glasses, you see everything blue. If you wear red glasses, you see everything red. If you are a good person, you will see goodness all around.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 29th, 2009
The body is made up of five elements and is bound to perish one day or the other. But in such a transient body there exists the eternal divinity in the form of the Atma (Self). The all-pervasive divinity is known as consciousness, the limited form of which exists in the body as conscience. Consciousness and conscience are the same in terms of quality, only the quantity differs. You may collect water from the ocean in a cup, pot and a big tank. The water in these three differs only in quantity, the salinity is the same in all of them. The body may be compared to a pot. The all-pervasive consciousness exists in it as conscience.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 30th, 2009
Brahman (God) is full of love and, in fact, is the embodiment of love. Your love should merge with this love. In fact, there is only one and no second; it is the non-dual state. The essential nature of love is sacrifice. Under any circumstance, it does not give room for hatred. It is love that drives away the feeling of separateness and promotes the feeling of oneness. Love also raises a person from the animal to the human. Prema (Love) is the Prana (Life Force) of man, and the Prana itself is Prema. One without love is like a lifeless corpse. Love and life are therefore inter-related and intimately connected.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - July 31st, 2009
God is ready to grant you happiness. Are you prepared to receive what He wishes to offer? Banish all worries. They are temporary like passing clouds. Happiness is union with God. God is eternal bliss. Get rid of your evil tendencies and fill your hearts with love of God. You will then become one with God. Do not allow anyone to come between you and your duty to God. Your allegiance to the Lord should transcend all other obligations. God takes care of such devotees. Surrender yourselves to God and dedicate yourselves to the service of mankind.
-SAI BABA