Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 1st, 2009
Life is a long pilgrimage along the rough and torturous road of this world. But, with the Name of God on his lips, the pilgrim will know no thirst; with the Form of God in his heart, he will feel no exhaustion. The company of the holy will inspire him to travel in hope and faith. The assurance that God is ever near will lend strength to his limbs. Remember that with every step, you are nearing God; and God too, takes ten steps towards you when you take one step towards Him. This journey does not have any halts; it is one continuous journey, through tears and smiles, through birth and death. When the road ends, and the Goal is attained, the pilgrim finds that he has travelled only from himself to himself, that the God he sought was all the while in him, around him, with him, and beside him! He himself was always Divine.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 2nd, 2009
Man's foremost duty is to make right use of the time through the bodily vesture given to him. Man is bound by actions in this phenomenal world. While the Divine is all-pervasive, man fails to recognise it. He is unable to see the light that is within him. The Reality which you seek everywhere in the outside world is within you. Man today looks only at the outside world; this is an animal quality. To look inward is the mark of the true human being. Obsessed with the external and ignoring his inner vision, man has forfeited his power of discrimination.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 3rd, 2009
Do not serve for the sake of rewards, attracting attention, or earning gratitude, or from a sense of pride at your own superiority in skill, wealth, status or authority. Serve because you are urged by love. When you succeed, ascribe the success to the Grace of God, who inspired you as the Love principle within you. When you fail, ascribe the failure to your own inadequacy, insincerity or ignorance. Examine the springs of action, disinfect them from all traces of ego. Do not blame the recipient of the Seva (service), or your collaborators and co-workers, or God.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 4th, 2009
To attain the attitude of surrender, of dedication, you must have Faith in God. This world is His play; it is not an empty dream; it has its own purpose and use. It is the means by which one can discover God; see Him in the beauty, the grandeur, the order, the majesty of Nature. These are but shadows of His Glory and His Splendor. Upasana (adoration of God), leads to the knowledge that He is all; when you experience that there is no Second, that is Jnana (Spiritual Wisdom)!
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 5th, 2009
It is only by the cultivation of detachment, by denying the senses the thrills they thirst for, and by diving into the depths of one's being with the firm belief that there is an immense inner realm that rewards exploration, that one can capture the bliss of the supreme tranquility. This is the highest morality, for, when this is done, man is saturated with love and has no trace of malice, hate, greed or lust left in him. Man's vision is purified by the ideal of the unity of all in One and the proliferation of One as all.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 6th, 2009
Easwaramma Day
At this critical hour in the history of the world, when the demoniac forces of fear and anxiety, injustice and inequity are raging in wild fury, it is the duty of every human being to be equipped with spiritual strength so that he may not be overwhelmed by the storm. This is an urgent and essential task and I must say that the women of India have a contribution to render service and a role to play. They must bring God into the hearts of the child and help it to keep Him there. For, Faith in God is the tonic that men needs to get back health and happiness.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 7th, 2009
Love God and you see God in every creature. Another way is to start with those around you, and then widen the circle of love till it envelops all creation. Let the mind dwell ever on God; let it see everything as Divine. That is what is described as onepointedness. When the mind is so fixed, it will give up its tendency to search for faults and foibles in others; it will not run after the foul and the frivolous and it will not accumulate the trivial and the transient. The body is like the container of the torch, the senses, the bulb and the mind is the battery. But if you use your intellect as the switch, then, the mind will not be turned towards the undesirable. It will be used only to help the individual's progress towards his/her Divine destiny.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 8th, 2009
The body is a chariot. The charioteer is the principle of Buddhi (intellect). The senses are the horses. The reins that regulate and restrain the horses is the Manas (mind). When the mind wavers and wanders, not having stability of purpose, the horses run helter-skelter, endangering even the charioteer, Buddhi (intellect). So, one has to control the mind and not pollute it with greed for sense pleasures. The mind has to act as the associate of Buddhi. Speech subserving the mind and mind subserving the intellect - this is the way to bring about Prashanthi, the Supreme Peace. And, slowly and steadily, instruct the intellect to turn towards the Atma. Speech guided by a mind, which is in tune with an intellect illumined by the Atma - this will lead to us the ultimate goal.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 9th, 2009
Buddha Poornima
The Divine is present in man like the unseen thread which holds a garland together. The entire cosmos is permeated by the Divine and is the visible manifestation of the Divine. Consider yourselves the children of one mother and belonging to the family of humanity. Do not give room for differences of race, creed and nationality. Believe firmly that all belong to the caste of humanity, follow the religion of love and speak the language of the heart. Water is called by different names in different languages. Likewise God is one, whatever name you call Him by, be it Allah, Jesus, Buddha or Rama - have that faith. Develop this universal outlook and don't criticize any religion.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 10th, 2009
Man's duty is to sanctify his days and nights with the unbroken smarana (recollection) of the Name. Recollect with joy and with true yearning. If you do so, God is bound to appear before you in the Form and with the Name you have adored Him. God is all Names and all forms, the blending of all these in harmonious beauty! The Gods worshipped in different faiths, adored by different human communities, are all various manifestations of the one Divine principle that really is. Just as the body is the harmonious blending of the senses and the limbs, God is the harmony of all the forms and names that mankind worships.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 11th, 2009
Morality does not merely mean the observance of certain rules in the work-a-day world. Morality means adherence to the straight and sacred path of right conduct. The honor of the community rests upon morality. Without morals, a community decays. Only in an individual who is morally strong does the human personality find its best expression. The term 'personality' can be applied only to one who manifests the hidden unmanifested divinity within him by his conduct. Mere human form does not make one a human personality. It is the behavior that counts. Only those who lead well-regulated lives and manifest their true divine nature can be regarded as real human beings.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 12th, 2009
In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna calls upon Arjuna to regard himself as an instrument of the Divine. Every human being is indeed an instrument of God. As such, he should carry out his duties, leaving the results to God. Men have to do their duties; success or failure is determined by the Divine. Do not esteem yourself as the doer. Develop the conviction that the Indwelling Spirit in you is directing you and enabling you to act.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 13th, 2009
You have no need to run about in search of God, for, you are yourself God. God resides in your heart. He is the All-pervasive motive force. Have firm faith in this truth. Like fire in the matchstick, divinity is latent in man. The fire in the stick becomes manifest when it is struck against the side of the box. So too, when the Jivi (individual) contacts Deva (God), the flame of Jnana (Wisdom) shines brilliantly.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 14th, 2009
The mansion called life must be built on strong foundations, the pursuit of artha (wealth) and kama (fulfillment of desires) must be regulated by the yardstick of Dharma. Dharma fosters those who foster it. The strongest foundation is ever-present Faith in the Almighty. Some may ask, "If He is Almighty, why then is he not patent?" Well, He reveals Himself only to the person who has the yearning, not the one who puts questions out of impudence or ignorance. He will be patent only in the pure heart that is not clouded by egoism or attachment to worldly objects.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 15th, 2009
One may have listened to a number of spiritual discourses, but one should not be content with mere listening only to forget them later. One must enquire as to how much one has been transformed by attending these discourses. One must try to put into practice at least one or two of the teachings, get rid of worldly attachments gradually and progress on the path towards the Divine. In due course, divinity will surely blossom in the heart. If, on the contrary, one goes on multiplying one's worldly concerns and desires, one will go down to the animal level. One must be content with what one has and put it to good use with faith in the Lord.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 16th, 2009
Oil is present within the sesame seed. Ghee is present in every drop of milk. Fragrance is latent in every flower. A fruit is imbued with sweet juice. In every piece of wood, fire is latent. In the same manner, the Divine is immanent in the entire cosmos in a subtle form as Chaitanya (Consciousness). The cosmos is the visible manifestation of the invisible Supreme Self. The Divine shines effulgently in every man as Sath-Chith-Ananda (Being-Awareness-Bliss). While the Divine is in such close proximity to him, man in his ignorance goes about seeking God outside himself.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 17th, 2009
The root cause of all difficulties experienced by man is forgetfulness of his spiritual reality and identification with his body. The body is only the vesture of the Indwelling Spirit. By immersing himself in body-consciousness, man develops egoism and possessiveness, which in turn give rise to many other vices. He forgets his inherent divinity and fails to use the senses and organs he is endowed with in the right way. Your senses are God-given gifts. They should be used only for sacred purposes and should not be misused. Entertain only sacred thoughts and engage yourselves only in sacred deeds. Thereby, you will be sanctifying your lives. There is only one royal road to realizing God. It is the path of Divine love. You have come from the Divine and your destiny is to merge in the Divine.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 18th, 2009
Little children are trained to walk, by means of a walker, which they hold and push along. The Pranava (the sound of "Om") is such a contraption, with the three wheels of 'A', 'U' and 'M'. Holding it, man can learn to use the two feet of Bhakti (Devotion) and Vairagya (Detachment). If he gives up his hold on the Omkara, he plumps down on the ground helplessly. If he walks on with the help of the Pranava Japa (repetition of "Om"), he can certainly realize the glory of the Brahman (God), which is the very substance of the Universe.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 19th, 2009
Pure and selfless love towards all living beings, considering everyone as embodiments of the Divine, with no expectation of reward, is true Love. With this attitude, when one regards divinity as present in all beings, he experiences true love. Whatever be the vicissitudes one may face, whatever be the personal sorrows and privations one may undergo, true love will remain unaffected. Today, the moment a difficulty arises, love turns into hatred. True love is the sweet fruit that grows out of the fragrant flower of good deeds. Love rules without recourse to the sword. It binds without laws. Only one who has such true love can be described as human, for, divine love is the basic quality of a true human being.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 20th, 2009
Thyaga (the spirit of sacrifice) is essential for rendering dedicated service. Getting rid of bad qualities is true sacrifice; it is also Yoga (spiritual communion). Realize that whoever you may be serving, you are indeed serving the Divine in various human forms. Those who serve have to cherish this sublime and sacred feeling. They must strive to see God in everyone.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 21st, 2009
Through right action, one achieves purity of heart, which leads to the acquisition of Jnana (wisdom). It is only when attachment to the fruits of one's actions is discarded that the action becomes Yoga (Divine communion). One should overcome the sense of 'mine' and 'thine'. When one embarks on service activities, one should regard it as a privilege to serve others and look upon it as a form of worship of the Divine. One should consider service to society as the means of finding self-fulfilment in life. One should face whatever problems may arise, with faith and courage, and carry on one's service activities without fanfare, in a spirit of humility and dedication.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 22nd, 2009
Men should lead selfless lives. This may seem difficult. But, in reality, there is nothing easier than this. It is selfishness that creates all kinds of difficulties for man. Selfless love gives no room for any evil. Selfless love may meet with opposition from one's kith and kin and from worldly persons. But one should not be deterred by such opposition. Love should be cherished as one's life breath. Make love the basis for all your actions. The love of God should be free from any desire for favours.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 23rd, 2009
You must realize that your service activities are done for the sake of your own spiritual purification and uplift. All actions should be done with a view to purify the mind and remove all the dross from it. It is wrong to think that through actions alone you can attain liberation or redeem your lives. Actions have to be done solely for the purification of the Chitta (consciousness). Without purity of consciousness, life cannot be spiritualized. Human birth is the result of Karma (action). Right action leads to Dharma (Righteousness). Through Dharma, the Divine has to be realized.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 24th, 2009
The cosmos is the creation of the Divine. It is surcharged with energy. This energy is not localised at a particular point in space or time. Though this energy is all-pervading, man is unable to recognise its divine nature. As he cannot recognise it, he presumes that it does not exist. Electrical energy flows continuously in the wires. But, its presence is recognized only when a bulb is fitted and switched on. Likewise, though God is omnipresent. His divine effulgence will shine only in those who adore Him with a pure heart.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 25th, 2009
Caught in the coils of the creation, 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 - May 26th, 2009
From ancient times, various terms have been used to describe the Divine, but no one has been able to demonstrate the true nature of the Divine. The Divine is present in all things, and all forms are His. How can such an omnipresent Divine be described or demonstrated? Can anyone declare that something is Brahman (God) and something else is not Brahman? What is the form of the Divine? If you wish to see the Divine, the form you envisage will be only a caricature. Consider your own form as the manifestation of the Divine. Esteem yourself as divine. Respect others. Love yourself and love others. This is true worship.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 27th, 2009
The most important cause for bondage to the world is giving too much freedom to the mind. For example, when an animal is tethered to a post, it will not be able to roam over various fields, destroy the crops and cause loss and harm to others, and thereafter get beaten for the mischief done by it. Hence, the mind must be bound by certain regulations and limits. As long as man lives a disciplined life, bound by certain rules and regulations, he will be able to earn a good reputation and lead a happy and fruitful life. Once he crosses these limits, he will go astray.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 28th, 2009
Service should not be done in a spirit of condescension or to achieve some selfish objective. Not recognising the sacredness and purifying power of service, people hesitate to embark on social service. It should not be imagined that one is promoting the well-being of the nation by one's service activities. One should realise that ultimately one is only bettering oneself by rendering service. Service should proceed from an awareness of what one owes to society. Gratitude demands that one should serve society which is the source of all benefits enjoyed by man. Men without gratitude are worse than wild animals. What is required for service is not money and materials; a loving heart is the first requisite. All service done without a heart filled with love is useless.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 29th, 2009
One may claim to have surrendered all his wealth, power and position to God. But, when one truly surrenders, one realizes one's relationship with God saying, "I am in You, You are in me." The sense of separation between God and the individual should vanish. Devotion does not consist merely in offering worship in various ways. It means offering oneself to the Lord with dedication and unsullied love. You have come from the Divine who is the embodiment of love. Hence, base your life on that love.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 30th, 2009
Saturate every breath of yours with love. Love knows no fear. Fear drags man into falsehood, injustice and evil. Love does not crave for praise. Only those who have no Love in them itch for reward and reputation. Love is its own reward. When you are eager to place offerings before the Lord, let it be love instead of mere material objects. Love is no merchandise; do not bargain about its cost. Let it flow clear from the heart, as a stream of Truth, a river of wisdom. Let it not emanate from the head, nor from the tongue. Let it emerge, full and free, from the heart.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - May 31st, 2009
Where is righteousness? It is in your conduct, thoughts, words and deeds. Righteousness dwells in your heart. When the impulses arising from the heart are expressed in words, that is Sathya (Truth). To translate those words into action is Dharma (Righteousness). For all these, Love is the primary requisite. Love in action is righteousness. Love in speech is Truth. Love in thought is Peace. Love in understanding is Non-violence. When you realise that God is in everyone, you will practise non-violence. God is one, though He may be worshipped in different forms and by different names - Rama or Krishna, Allah or Jesus, Hari or Sai.
-SAI BABA