People imagine that spirituality means meditating on God, bathing in sacred waters and visiting holy shrines, but this is not the correct meaning of spirituality. Spirituality means destroying the animal nature in man and awakening him to his divine consciousness. Spirituality implies recognizing that one’s manifold capacities emanate from the Spirit and not from the mind, then utilizing them for achieving spiritual strength. It means acknowledging that all powers come from the Divine.

-SAI BABA

 

If you win the grace of the Lord, even the decree of destiny can be overcome. When a bottle of medicine is purchased, on the label is a date, printed by the drug manufacturer that indicates its expiration. The drug loses its efficacy beyond that date. Although the drug remains in the bottle, it will no longer be effective. Similarly, the grace of God can work like an expiration date and make the effects of destiny ineffective. God's grace cannot be had by one who is wavering from moment to moment and whose heart is not pure. Even if you do not practice worship or meditation, it is enough if you have cleansed your heart. The Divine will then enter it.

-SAI BABA

 

Whoever comes seeking service from you is the one you must attend to at that time. It is your duty to satisfy the need of that person through your service, and that will be the best work that you can do that moment. The present, when you can do something, that is the most sacred time. You do not see the future, for your eyes cannot perceive it. The past has gone and there is nothing you can do about it. Thus, the present is the best time in which you can discharge your duty and be of service to the person who comes seeking your help.

-SAI BABA

 

Goodness, compassion, tolerance – through these virtues one can perceive the Divinity in oneself and in others. Softness of heart is often condemned as weakness, cowardice and want of intelligence; they say that the heart has to be hardened against pity and charity, but that way lies war, destruction and downfall. Love alone confers lasting happiness and peace. Sharing can alone reduce grief and multiply joy. People are born to share, to serve, to give and not to grab.

-SAI BABA

 

We speak of the sky and the ocean as being blue in colour, but this is incorrect. Neither the sky nor the ocean are actually blue themselves. It is the vastness of space and the depth of the ocean that produces this illusion of blueness. If you take some seawater in your palm, you will see that it is actually colourless. Likewise, good and evil depend on our own thoughts and feelings.

-SAI BABA

 

The Sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) must have an attitude of fear that the Lord is everywhere and seeing everything, an ever present apprehension that one might slide into sin. He must have a natural bent towards truth and right conduct. He must direct his mind towards the welfare of all mankind. Dharma (righteousness) will shine and illumine only the person who serves all and confers joy on all. Such a person will not only receive the grace of the Lord, but also attain the ultimate goal of merging in Him.

-SAI BABA

 

Global Akhanda Bhajan

During Bhajans, instead of paying great attention to Raaga, Thaala, Laya and Shruti (the melody, the beat, the rhythm and the tone), one should try to elevate the Bhajans to a spiritual level by singing with true feeling and ecstasy of devotion. The songs should flow not from the lips but from the heart. When the songs come from the heart, they will be blissful to the ears also. Conduct your Bhajans with a pure unsullied heart, oblivious to all worldly desires. When you chant the Lord's name with a pure heart, you will experience the Divine.
 

-SAI BABA

 

The mind is sometimes characterized as a snake. This is because it doesn't move straight. It delights in crooked stratagems and clever contrivances. It avoids the straight path of sincerity and veracity. But, the snake mind can be charmed into innocence. When the snake charmer plays on his instrument, the snake sways its hood entranced; so, too the mind will sway with the music that emanates from the recitation of the Name of God!

-SAI BABA

 

Wealth, education, social status, etc. are of no avail without character. Character is like the fragrance of the flower; it gives value and worth. Poets, painters, artists and scientists may each be great in their own field, but without character they can have no true standing. One may wonder whether all those who are now treated with respect by society have a character that entitles them to being considered great, but society is subject to fashions that vary from day to day. The basic nature of a flawless character is eternal, and remains the same whatever the vicissitudes of society. Among the qualities that make up a flawless character are love, patience, forbearance, steadfastness, charity – these are the highest, these have to be revered.

-SAI BABA

 

Man is a part of the human community. Mankind is a part of nature. Nature is a limb of God. Man has not recognised these inter-relationships. Today men are forgetting their obligations. The Cosmos is an integral organism of interrelated parts. When each one performs his duty, the benefits are available to all. Man is entitled only to perform his duties and not to the fruits thereof. Man is a kind of stage-director of what goes on in Nature. But forgetting his responsibilities, man fights for rights. It is foolish to fight for rights without discharging one's duties. All the chaos and conflicts in the world are due to men forgetting their duties. If everyone discharge their duties diligently, the world will be peaceful and prosperous.

-SAI BABA

 

Sandalwood gives more and more fragrance when it is subjected to more and more grinding. The sugarcane yields juice as it is chewed more and more. Gold gets refined when it is melted in the fire. So also, a true devotee will not falter in his love for God even when he faces troubles and obstacles in his life. God tests His devotees only to take them to a higher level on the spiritual ladder.

-SAI BABA

 

The right attitude of the devotee should be one of total surrender. As one devotee declared, “I am offering to you the heart which you gave me. I have nothing I can call my very own. All are yours. I offer to you what is already yours.” As long as this spirit of total surrender is not developed, man will have to be born again and again. One should offer one's heart to the Divine and not be content with making offerings like flowers and fruits.

-SAI BABA

 

Giving up the little “I” is what renunciation really means. It means sublimating every thought, word and deed into an offering to God, saturating all acts with divine intent. To cultivate love is the best spiritual discipline. Love gives itself forever; it never asks another to give. Shower it on others and you will be showered in return. Stop sharing love and there will be no more to share. Love thrives on renunciation – indeed, they are inseparable.

-SAI BABA

 

Who are you? The Atma. From where did you come? From the Atma. Where are you going? To the Atma. How long will you be here? So long as being engaged in sensual pursuits. Where are you? In the unreal and ever-changing world. In what form? As Anatma (that which is not Atma). What are you engaged in? In evanescent tasks. Therefore what should you do hereafter? Give these up and strive to merge with the Atma.

-SAI BABA

 

Detachment, faith and love – these are the pillars upon which peace rests. Of these, faith is crucial, for without it all spiritual discipline is empty. Detachment alone can make spiritual discipline effective, and love is what leads one quickly to God. Faith feeds the agony of separation from God; detachment canalises it along the path of God, and love lights the way. God will grant you what you need and deserve; there is no need to ask, no reason to grumble. Be content. Nothing can happen against His will.

 

-SAI BABA

 

Only by following the path of love can you experience bliss. Just as merely reciting the names of the dishes cannot appease your hunger, so too, unless you speak sweet words and do sacred actions, you cannot enjoy life’s sweetness and be happy. You are all children of immortality and embodiments of bliss. It is because you have emerged from bliss that you seek to return to that Source, the bliss. Just as fish born in water cannot live out of water, so does man always crave for happiness, wherever he is and in whatever he does. Man is restless until he returns to the bliss from whence he emerged. True bliss is not found in this world. Keep your mind always on God – only then will you have peace and happiness.

-SAI BABA

 

In this worldly life, love is manifesting in several forms such as the love between mother and son, husband and wife, and between relatives. This love based on physical relationships arises out of selfish motives and self-interest. But the love for the Divine is devoid of any trace of self-interest. It is love for the sake of love alone. This is called Bhakti (devotion). One characteristic of this love is to give and not to receive. Secondly, love knows no fear. Thirdly, it is only for love's sake and not for selfish motive. All these three angles of love jointly connote Prapatthi (Surrender). When one revels in this attitude of Prapatthi, one experiences the bliss of the Divine.

-SAI BABA

 

Rathotsavam
Man is in search of God and is enquiring into the nature of divinity. When God is within, where is the need to search for Him? Firstly, man should endeavour to understand his true nature which is Sathyam, Jnanam and Anantham (truth, wisdom and infinitude). God has gifted man with the Vedas and other scriptures to open his eyes to the truth that he is essentially divine. In this world, every man is endowed with truth, righteousness and love. Man is the embodiment of Sath, Chith and Ananda (Being-Awareness-Bliss). These attributes are verily divine.

-SAI BABA

 

What we have to safeguard and protect today are Truth and Righteousness and not the nation. When Truth and Righteousness are protected, they will protect the nation. Hence, righteousness should be fostered in every home. A home is no trivial place, it is the abode of Dharma (Righteousness) which protects and safeguards the country. The home is the beacon which illumines the world and sustains it. Women should realize that, irrespective of their education or position, their foremost obligation is to protect the home. Wherever women are honoured there is prosperity and happiness. Women should never be slighted or treated with disrespect. A home in which a woman sheds tears will be bereft of all prosperity.

-SAI BABA

 

There is no greater quality in man than selfless love, which expresses itself in service to others. Such love can be the source of real bliss. The relationship between Karma and Karma Yoga should be properly understood. Karma (action) done with attachment or desire causes bondage. But selfless action devoid of desires becomes Karma Yoga (the path of action leading to liberation). Our life should become Yoga (Divine Communion) rather than a Roga (disease).

-SAI BABA

 

The progress of the universe is interlinked with the progress of man. Any amount of development in scientific, economic and social spheres will not be of much use without mental transformation. How can we bring about this transformation? It is by keeping in check one's passions and emotions. Since mental tension is most detrimental to man's health, man should learn the art of controlling his passions and emotions, which cause stress and strain. Man should make an earnest endeavour to lead a serene and pure life. He should realise the truth that troubles and turmoil are temporary, like passing clouds. There is no scope for agitations to arise if one realises this truth. One who realises this truth will not allow his mind to be swayed by the passions of anger, cruelty, etc.

-SAI BABA

 

The end of wisdom is freedom. The end of culture is perfection. The end of knowledge is love. The end of education is character. There is a desire on the part of all of us to acquire these four qualities, namely wisdom, culture, education and reach their ends, namely freedom, perfection, love and character. But students should realize that if these qualities are not properly utilised, then they cannot call themselves students. As students and future citizens of this country, you have the responsibility of shaping the future of this country. Put your hearts in the right path by listening attentively to the persons of eminence and experience.

-SAI BABA

 

Birthday Celebrations

Men cannot comprehend the Formless and the Attributeless Absolute. Avatars (Divine Incarnations) appear in human form to enable humanity to experience the Formless in a form which is accessible to them and helpful to them. An Avatar assumes the form that is beneficial to and within the reach of human beings. An effort must be made to understand the nature of divinity. It is only when God comes in human form can human beings have the full opportunity to experience and enjoy the Divine.
 

-SAI BABA

 

One should be constantly contemplating on the principle of Brahma Sathyam, Jagath Mithya (reality of God and impermanence of the world). One must avoid the company of bad people; and even too much friendship with the good. Attachment of this nature will drag one away from the path to God. Give up attachment to the momentary. Once you have achieved this Udaaseenata (attitude of being unaffected), you will have unshakeable Shanti (peace), self-control and purity of mind.

-SAI BABA

 

What does Ahimsa (non-violence) signify? It is not merely refraining from causing harm to others. It also implies refraining from causing harm to oneself. In the matter of speech, one must examine whether one’s words cause pain to others. One must see that one’s vision is not tainted with evil intentions or thoughts. Nor should one listen to evil talk either. All these things cause harm to a person. Hence one should see to it that one gives no room for bad vision, bad hearing, bad speech, bad thoughts or bad actions. And how do you determine what is bad? By consulting your conscience. Whenever you act against the dictates of your conscience, bad results will follow.

-SAI BABA

 

Be always saturated with love. Do not use poisonous words against anyone, for words are more fatal than even arrows. Speak softly and sweetly. Sympathise with the suffering and the ignorant. Do your best to apply the salve of soothing words and render timely help. Do not damage anyone’s faith in virtue and Divinity. Encourage others to have that faith by demonstrating in your own life that virtue is its own reward and that Divinity is all-pervasive and all-powerful.

-SAI BABA

 

When you are confronted with problems and difficulties you should not get upset, and become victims of depression which is a sign of weakness. In such a situation, you should bring tolerance and an attitude of forgiveness into play and should not get agitated giving rise to anger, hatred and revengeful attitude. You are embodiments of strength and not weakness. Therefore, in times of despair, you should be filled with the feeling of forbearance and be ready to forgive and forget. This quality of Kshama (forgiveness) is the greatest power for a human being. If one loses this quality, he becomes demonic.

-SAI BABA

 

The clouds of Maya (delusion) cannot darken the inner consciousness of the following four categories of noble persons: (1) those who revel in the glory and mystery of God; (2) those who know and make known that God is the master of Maya and the wielder of the forces that destroy delusion; (3) those who are engaged in good deeds executed with faith and devotion; and (4) those who endeavour to maintain Sathya (Truth) and Dharma (Righteousness).

-SAI BABA

 

What for is man born in this world? Is it merely to roam around and indulge in the pleasures of the world? Understand that worldly pleasures are not permanent. All that happens to you in future will be in accordance with your conduct today. Everything is reaction, reflection and resound. The good deeds that you perform today will yield good results in the time to come. If you do bad deeds today, you cannot expect to be rewarded with good results in future. The results of your past bad deeds will always keep haunting you.

-SAI BABA

 

Delusion causes evil feelings to arise in your heart and mind. One may be evil-minded, yet with the blessings of elders and in the company of noble souls, one can easily get rid of evil tendencies and develop virtues. People undertake various spiritual practices to attain divinity. Thyaja Durjana Samsargam; Bhaja Sadhu Samagamam; Kuru Punyam Ahorathram; Smara Nityam Anityatham (Shun bad company; seek good company, perform righteous deeds always and discriminate between the permanent and the ephemeral).

-SAI BABA