Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 1st, 2009
During summer, the land gets heated up and is rendered uncultivable. As soon as there is rainfall, saplings sprout and the land looks green. From where did the sprouts come? From the seeds sowed in the earth. If there had been no seeds at all, the sprouting would never have occurred. Likewise, Karma (past deeds) is the seed for human birth. Your present life is a reaction, resound and reflection of your past actions. Therefore, you are advised, "Be good, see good and do good."
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 2nd, 2009
There are three stages of wisdom: Jnana, Sujnana and Vijnana. Knowledge that is gained by the analysis of the objective world is Jnana. When this knowledge is further studied and practiced to serve the best interests of the individual society, it becomes Sujnana, or beneficial wisdom. The intentions and urges that arise from the purified consciousness saturated with Divine qualities is Vijnana, the Highest Wisdom. Intelligence, intellect, intuition - these three govern the thoughts and actions of man. One leads to another.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 3rd, 2009
Why does man wail when he arrives into the world, whimper throughout his life and groan out, into the beyond, lamenting that his sojourn here was a waste of years? Man does so, because he is unaware of his glory, of his high destiny! He is the Divine poured into the human mould. It is the privilege of man alone, to be able to become aware of this precious truth! This is the message of the Upanishads to man, echoed in scriptures, and in the declarations of countless saints. Yet, man turns a deaf ear to it, perhaps, due to his own misfortune created by his own misdeeds in past lives. What an inexhaustible source of bliss lies within you! You only have to develop the mind that will respond to the call, that will recognize the Truth.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 4th, 2009
When you perform any action, you seldom think about the long-term consequences. You are preoccupied with the concerns of the moment. But when you are finally confronted with the results, you become frightened. Whether the results are pleasant or unpleasant, they are inescapable. If sugar is dissolved in water, even if you think it is poison, it will only do you good. But if poison is added to water and you drink it, thinking that it is sugarcane juice, it will be fatal. The results are based on your actions and not on your fancies.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 5th, 2009
Brahman is the immovable Totality, the Eternal, the True, the Pure and the Attributeless. Just as the road, though itself stationary, enables the car to move over it, the Brahman principle is the basis for the existence and activities of Jivis (individual beings). In fact, there is only One that appears as two. Look outward, it is Jivi; look inward, it is God. The outer vision makes you forget; the inner makes you remember. When man seeks to rise to the divinity which is his reality, he struggles to recollect and experience his true nature. When he grovels in the lower levels of consciousness and is enmeshed in the world, he is caught in the coils of forgetfulness. Removing selfish desires and expanding one's urge to love and serve is the most effective way to merge in the Supreme Consciousness.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 6th, 2009
Dhrishti (sight) decides attachment, sorrow, passion, etc. You are the noblest being ever created, and so, you have to develop the vision that sees no high or low, that sees all as suffused with divinity, and therefore, not different from one another. Adi Shankara declared, "Make your Dhrishti charged with Jnana (wisdom); then, the seen will appear in its true light as Brahman". The God in you is in each of them, too. Do not imagine the others to be distinct, they are only you, in so many different forms. The world is filled with your kith and kin; all are sparks from the same flame.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 7th, 2009
Love should come from within, not enforced from the outside. Love must be spontaneous. The attitude of petitioning God for favours should be given up. Love of God should not be based on seeking favours in exchange for prayers and offerings to God. Love is the most important element. Through love alone can you unify the world. It is the absence of love that is the cause of hatred. It is this hatred that undermines human nature.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 8th, 2009
The world is today suffering from disorder and violence because people have lost Atma-Vishwasa (faith in the Self). They are fostering attachment to the body and ignoring the Spirit. Man should not follow the senses which are wayward, the body which is perishable, or the mind which is fickle. He must follow the conscience, which tells him what is right or wrong. Man has to rise above the animal nature. He has to express his divine potencies. For this, man has to acquire knowledge of the Divine Self. Atma is the all-pervading Universal Consciousness. It is immanent in everyone. Only as long as this consciousness is present in the human body, it is called Shivam (auspiciousness). Once the consciousness leaves the body, it becomes Shavam (a corpse).
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 9th, 2009
It is conduct that is most important for every person. Conduct is determined by the state of the mind. Instead of giving way to the promptings of the senses, every action should be done as a sacred offering to the Divine. One should be indifferent to censure or praise. Such equanimity can come only from unwavering faith in God. Lacking this faith and filled with the conceit that he is the doer of everything, man gets immersed in sorrow and trouble. The one who boasts about his achievements should equally recognise that he is the author of his misfortunes. He cannot claim to be the doer and at the same time deny responsibility for the consequences of his actions. Hence, in all your actions whether good or bad, do your duty, leaving the results to God.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 10th, 2009
There is no action in the world which is devoid of consequence. This is the law of nature. For instance, when a finger is cut by a knife, immediately the finger starts bleeding. The result of the cut is instantaneous. However, when you sow a seed, it becomes a sapling after some days. But to bear fruit, it takes some years. Thus, every action has a consequence, but the time interval between action and result varies. One who is aware of this truth is unlikely to commit any wrong deeds because he knows that good deeds produce good results and bad deeds lead to bad consequences. Recognition of the law of Karma will make men lead proper lives.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 11th, 2009
There is only one important thing that you have to take note of - give up the delusion that the Divine is in some remote place. Have the faith that you are God. When you have the faith that you are Divine, you will never go astray. You will pursue the right path. Believe that God is in every human being. Have the firm faith that Divinity is present in every human form. Perform right actions befitting the human form. Eschew selfishness, and the attachments and hatred arising from it. The way to get rid of selfishness is adoration of God.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 12th, 2009
God is said to be a stealer of hearts! The whole world is God's. All of you belong to Him, though you may not know it. Therefore, He can take anything from anyone. He is the Master of the ether, wind, fire, water and earth; He can change the sky into the earth and the earth into the sky. He can also take hold of the hearts of people and fill them with Love. Once people taste the sweetness of His Love, they will not desire anything else. That is why He is called Chittha Chora (stealer of hearts). Pray to Him, "O God! Enter my heart too and fill it with Love, so that I may love all your children, in all lands. Never covet what belongs to others. Do not talk about others but, if you must, talk only of the good in them.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 13th, 2009
Bhakti (devotion) means Paripurna Prema (all-encompassing love). This love is motiveless. Love based on an ulterior motive cannot be real love. As a river seeks to join the ocean by a natural impulse, as a creeper winds itself naturally around a tree to climb upwards, the devotee's love is a spontaneous expression of the yearning to realize God, free from worldly desires of any kind. It proclaims that it needs no one except God. It is oblivious to all other things. It regards the Divine as the One that pervades everything. You must realise that the Divine is present in everything. Only when you can recognise the omnipresence of the Divine will you be able to experience the Divine.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 14th, 2009
Every object in nature, every incident in time, is really speaking, teaching you a lesson. Lord Dakshinamurthy was one morning walking in slow steps along the beach. He saw the waves slowly, but systematically, carrying towards the shore a bit of straw, passing it on from one crest to another, until it was deposited on land! The sea is a broad expanse, it is deep and mighty. But, yet, it is constantly engaged in purging itself from all extraneous things. You too must therefore not permit even a small desire to enter the mind. Force it out of your being, so that it can do you no harm. Eternal vigilance is the price of peace and happiness.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 15th, 2009
By Dhyana (meditation), you develop Jnana (spiritual wisdom) and by Japam (recitation of God's Name) you develop Bhakti (devotion) and by both, you cleanse your heart of the canker of ego. You can link yourselves with God, by a chain of love, through the recitation of the name, in silence and with full awareness of the meaning and its nuances. Each time you utter the Divine Name; the more the links the longer the chain, the firmer the bond. But, each link has to be well forged out of well tempered steel. One false link, that is to say, the Name once uttered in sloth or slight, indifference or anger, resentment or rancour, will constitute a weak link and the bond will not bind.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 16th, 2009
Simple faith in the words of the wise is more profitable than years of study and discussion. Contemplate on the Vedic dictum - Tat Twam Asi (You are That). As you ruminate over it, meanings will dawn upon you without the help of any commentary. Commentaries only tend to confuse you. Think of 'Tat' ("That" standing for Divinity), analyse 'Twam' (you), and then you will be convinced that 'Asi' (are) is the only solution. You are in the Light; the Light is in you; you are the Light - these are three successive steps to realisation.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 17th, 2009
The importance of the mind in the process of transformation should be properly understood, because it is the mind that is the cause of both bondage and liberation. Your own actions are the cause of your happiness or sorrow. Do not blame others for your condition. Every thought, every word and every action has its reflection, resound and reaction. It is a sign of weakness to blame others for your troubles. You have to bear the consequences of your own actions. If they are unbearable, pray to God for relief. God alone can give relief in such cases.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 18th, 2009
Character is the true ornament of man. The loss of this ornament is the source of all his suffering and misery. Man does not realize the purpose for which he has been created by God. God’s creation is pregnant with profound truths, mysteries and ideals. But man has forgotten these ideals. He is unable to appreciate the significance of his legacy. Of all the powers in the world, human power is the greatest. Man assigns value to everything in this world, but he is unable to recognize his own value.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 19th, 2009
Without God, there is no universe. To ask for physical proof of the existence of bliss or love or the fragrance of a flower is impracticable. To deny the reality of love on the ground that it has no recognizable form is meaningless. Love may have no form, but the mother who exhibits love has a form. All beings are manifestations of the Cosmic Divine. The forms are different, but the spirit that animates them all is One, like the current that illumines bulbs of different colours and wattage. Cultivate this feeling of oneness and do not be critical of any faith or religion. Dedicate your lives to the service of your fellow beings. Thereby, you will be redeeming your lives.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 20th, 2009
You have to make your love pure. To do so, you must develop Kshama (forbearance), which implies remaining serene, patient and observing self-restraint under all circumstances, doing good to all, even to those who may want to harm you. There is nothing greater than Kshama. Kshama is equivalent to truth itself. It is the heart of Dharma (righteousness). It is non-violence in practice. Kshama is contentment, compassion; truly, it is everything in all the worlds. Only when you have developed Kshama will you be able to attain the Lord.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 21st, 2009
Why does man wail when he arrives into the world, whimper throughout his life and groan out, into the beyond, lamenting that his sojourn here was a waste of years? Man does so, because he is unaware of his glory, of his high destiny! He is the Divine poured into the human mould. It is the privilege of man alone, to be able to become aware of this precious truth! This is the message of the Upanishads to man, echoed in scriptures, and in the declarations of countless saints. Yet, man turns a deaf ear to it, perhaps, due to his own misfortune created by his own misdeeds in past lives. What an inexhaustible source of bliss lies within you! You only have to develop the mind that will respond to the call, that will recognise the Truth.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 22nd, 2009
Why do you repeat the word “Shanti” (peace) thrice? You pray that you may have peace at all the three levels - physical, mental and spiritual. You are not one, but three: the one you think you are - physical body, the one others think you are - mind and the one you really are - Atma. All the three aspects of your being must be in a state of peace. This can be achieved only through love. The evil traits of hatred, jealousy and pride should be cast aside. These are not human qualities, but animal traits. You are a human being. Love is the chief quality of man, truth is his basis and righteousness is his very life. When you cultivate these three, you will definitely attain peace.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 23rd, 2009
When Bhaktas (devotees) pray to Bhagawan (God) sincerely making all their actions as offering to God, they will certainly receive appropriate grace from the Divine. There are nine types of devotion. Shravanam (listening to the glory of the Lord), Keerthanam (singing), Vishnusmaranam (remembering), Padasevanam (adoration), Vandanam (saluting), Archanam (worshipping), Dasyam (obedient service), Sneham (friendship) and Atmanivedanam (self-surrender). In whichever way you offer worship, God responds in the same way. When you surrender all your actions, you will surely receive His Grace.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 24th, 2009
Prema (Love) has been described as beyond speech and mind. It is said to be Anirvachaneeyam (indescribable). This love cannot be got through scholarship, wealth or physical prowess. God, who is the embodiment of love, can be attained only through love, just as the effulgent sun can be seen only by its own light. There is nothing more precious in this world than Divine love. God is beyond all Gunas (attributes). Hence, His love too is beyond attributes. Since human love is governed by attributes, it results in either attachment or aversion. Love should not be based on expectations of reward or return. Love based on such expectations makes it a business deal. Love is not an article of commerce; it is not like lending a loan and getting it back. It is a spontaneous offering. Pure love of this kind can emanate only from a pure heart.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 25th, 2009
The true dwelling place of God is the heart of man. You don’t need to go in search of God. Not being able to recognize your innate divinity is Ajnana (ignorance). You have to enquire into the reason for this ignorance. This is mainly because you follow the Pravritthi Marga (outward path) all your life under the influence of the sense organs, which are drawn towards external objects. You are not making any effort to follow the Nivritthi Marga (inward path). Thus, you are fully engrossed in the outward activities and are completely neglecting the inward path. You see everything from a worldly point of view and do not recognize the divinity that pervades it. You have to make an effort to change your vision from outward to inward to perceive this divinity.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 26th, 2009
Once the organs of the body like eyes, ears, limbs became jealous of the tongue, saying that they make all efforts for securing food, but the tongue enjoys this. They stopped working and never sent any food. Tongue is the one that tastes the food and passes only palatable items of food inside, which is converted by the internal organs into energy giving blood. The tongue does not retain it. But for this vital part played by the tongue, the other organs would not be able to function at all. When the other organs became jealous of the tongue and stopped sending food with a view to harm it, they spelt their own ruin by such action, as they could not function when there was no food and consequently no supply of energy for these organs to function. Similarly, jealousy on the part of a person ultimately results in his own ruin.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 27th, 2009
Caught in the coils of the 'created,' man is blind to the fact that he is part of the Divine Creator. Identifying himself with the physical sheath in which he is encased, he is blind to the unity of all beings in the One Universal Absolute. Man has written and studied countless texts on spiritual discipline and discovery, and confounded the confusion, indulging in dialectical rivalries and argumentation. But, he who has put at least a page or two of these tomes into practise, is rendered silent and innocent of any desire for fame or victory. He is happy in the depths of his being. He ploughs the field of his heart, sows the seeds of love and reaps the harvest of fortitude and equanimity.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 28th, 2009
What is the message of SAI? ‘S’ stands for Spirituality, ‘A’ for Association and ‘I’ for Individual. It means that you must give first priority to spirituality; next, to society (association) and only lastly attend to one's individual interest. But, today man follows the reverse order, i.e., he holds his individual interest above his social responsibilities and gives least priority to spirituality. Consequently, he is distancing himself from God. In the first instance, man should take to the path of spirituality and then serve society, understanding the principle of unity. Only then will there be progress at the individual level.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 29th, 2009
The Universe is visible to the naked eye. It is called Prapancha because it is a manifestation of the Pancha Bhutas (five elements). There is no world without the five elements. They are the very forms of the Divine. That is why people reverentially refer to the five elements, namely, earth, water, air, fire and ether, as Bhudevi, Gangadevi, Vayudeva, Agnideva and Shabda Brahman, respectively. The five elements are present in every being. The Spirit or the Atma which is the very form of God, is not visible to the naked eye, but the Pancha Bhutas can be seen, heard, felt and experienced by one and all. They are highly potent. Man is the embodiment of the five elements. He is their master. One who understands the principle of these five elements becomes God Himself.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - June 30th, 2009
Ahimsa (non-violence) means not causing harm to anyone, but it is not merely refraining from inflicting injuries on others with one’s limbs or weapons. Non-violence also has to be practiced with purity of mind, tongue and body. There should be no ill-feelings, for that too is a form of violence. To cause bodily harm to another is violence, but so is speaking harshly. Your speech should be sweet, pleasing and wholesome. All your actions should be helpful to others.
-SAI BABA