Today man does not enquire as to what is his Gamyam (goal of life). Instead of trying to know the goal of life, he is worrying about his Janmam (worldly life). Even animals and insects are concerned about their worldly existence. You should strive to attain Atmic bliss right from a young age. That should be your only endeavour. Your thoughts, words and deeds should be aimed at this. Worldly experiences, however long one may enjoy them, cannot confer eternal bliss. You can experience eternal bliss only in the company of God. All the worldly activities and experiences are bound to change. The Atma alone is changeless.

-SAI BABA

 

Education should be divorced from jobs. Its purpose should be the acquisition of Vijnana (the highest knowledge). That is the concept upheld by Bharathiya Culture. Students will become ideal citizens of the nation only when they develop self-confidence and the feeling of spiritual oneness. Develop the spirit of sacrifice and become defenders of the nation's integrity and honour. You must strive to promote the welfare of society. Eschew ideas of "me" and "mine". You will then become one with the Divine. When you identify yourself with all, you can derive infinite joy.

-SAI BABA

 

Man is the storehouse of every mineral, metal and energy that the earth contains. He has in him electric, magnetic and several other forms of energy. Sadly, man does not realise this. There is the enormous strength of Divinity latent in him that enables him to do anything that he sets his mind on. Man's many achievements are mere glimpses of the great potential that is latent in him. All he needs is to have the will and the determination to realise this strength and potential.

-SAI BABA

 

Everyone should recognize the unity of the Atmic principle that exists in all beings. Satsang is very essential to understand this unity. Satsang does not mean association with good people, devotees or spiritual aspirants. People join such congregations and thus think that they are in Satsang. But it is not Satsang in the true sense of the term because people whom you think to be good may turn wicked later. They are bound to change. How can such temporary association confer everlasting happiness? 'Sath' is that which is changeless in all the three periods of time - past, present and future. It refers to the Atmic principle. To live always in the company of God is true Satsang.

-SAI BABA

 

Focus your mind on one goal and do not allow it to waver. You have to hold on to it till the very end. There is only one Divinity. Stick to any one form of God of your choice and hold firm to it. If you keep transplanting a sapling from one place to another frequently, how can it grow into a healthy tree? You have to plant it in one place and water it regularly until it grows into a strong tree. This is true devotion. If you keep changing your spiritual guides frequently, your devotion gets adulterated. Do not resort to such a course. Choose any one, and trust that God is in all.

-SAI BABA

 

You need not go anywhere searching for God. Divinity is within you. Just as there are many limbs in the body which are kept alive by one heart, the same God is the life-force for all beings. The entire universe is the reflection of the Supreme Being. Dhrishti (vision) determines your view of Shrishti (Creation). When you see the world through coloured glasses, you will see everything in the colour of the glasses you are wearing. Whatever happens, you should take it as a gift of God. Love is God. Live in Love. This is the proper way of worshipping God.

-SAI BABA

 

Family is the most important functional unit in the world. If the family is running on sound lines, the world will also run smoothly. If the unity among the family members suffers even to a small extent, the world will face the repercussions. Every family should strive for achieving unity and harmonious relationship among its members. There is nothing that cannot be achieved with unity. Take for example, the five fingers in the hand. When the five fingers work together, they can accomplish any task. Share your love with everybody. Love alone confers purity and sacredness to life.

-SAI BABA

 

What is the proper offering to God? Lord Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita mentions - Patram, Pushpam, Phalam, Toyam (leaf, flower, fruit and water). What do these signify? Your body is the leaf; your heart is the flower; your mind is the fruit and the tears of bliss are the water to be offered to God. The body is to be surrendered unto God by undertaking acts of worship and other sacred deeds. God is not confined to any particular place of worship. Your very body is a temple. Deho Devalaya Proktho Jeevo Deva Sanathanaha (body is the temple and the indweller is the eternal God). Find Him in your heart. All of you are embodiments of divinity.

-SAI BABA

 

It is the sense of duality of 'mine' and 'thine' which accounts for all the joys and sorrows, likes and dislikes experienced by man. This duality is rooted in selfishness, which makes one think that as long as one is alright, it does not matter what happens to the world. Such a self-centred person, who regards his body, his wealth and his family as all that matter to him, is deluded, for he looks upon truth as untruth and the false as true. To get rid of this deep-seated malaise, men have to engage themselves in service. They have to realise that the body has not been given to serve one's own interests but to serve others.

-SAI BABA

 

What is the purpose of human birth? It is not merely to eat, drink and make merry. Paropakarartham Idam Shariram (human body is meant to serve others). Man should dedicate himself to the service of society. God has endowed man with all powers. But, he is bound by the senses, which lead him to both good and evil ways. Hence, it is the foremost duty of man to make proper use of the senses. One who lacks sense control is worse than an animal. Firstly, one should get rid of one's animal qualities. Only then, can one rise to the level of the Divine.

-SAI BABA

 

Worship God in any form or with any name. In fact, God has thousands of names and a myriad forms. Ek Prabhu Ke Anek Naam (the one Lord has many names). While worshipping the Lord with a thousand names, you should be fully aware that it is the same Divinity you are addressing. Rama, Krishna, Allah, Jesus, etc., all are names denoting the same Divinity. Unity alone is the reality. Ekam Sath Viprah Bahudha Vadanthi (Truth is one, but the wise ones refer to it by many names). Hold this faith firmly in your heart and make your life worthwhile and remain ever in bliss.

-SAI BABA

 

Sound is the first attribute of God. The hymns of the Vedas constitute Naadha Brahman (God in the form of sound), which is highly potent. Even if you cannot chant the Vedas, mere listening to the recitation of the Vedas is itself capable of purifying your mind and elevating you to a higher level. Though the child does not know the meaning of the lullaby sung by its mother, it is induced to sleep hearing the tune. Similarly, listening to the chanting of the Vedas with undivided attention will confer upon you immense benefit. If you ruminate over it and practice its teachings in your life, you can imagine the magnitude of the bliss you will attain.

-SAI BABA

 

Keep this thought in your mind, "I am not a mere man, I am the embodiment of Divinity." Have this conviction fixed in your mind and you will realise this truth. As it is said, Brahmavid Brahmaiva Bhavathi (the knower of Brahman becomes verily Brahman). If you perceive yourself as Divine, you become Divine. If you consider yourself a human being, you will remain so. While your form is that of a human being, there is the Atmic principle in you. To recognise this Atman, you have to keep your heart pure and empty of negativity.

-SAI BABA

 

The body and mind are very closely interlinked and are vital to man's evolution. A complete man is one who has both a pure mind and a healthy body. The body must certainly be fostered and protected, but no attachment must be developed towards it. The Atma within the body is more fundamental. While the body is bound to perish sometime, the Atma within is eternal. A healthy body and a pure mind in turn combine to give 'Lavanya' - true beauty. True beauty is that of the character and not of the body. It is this Lavanya that gives one an eternal youthful countenance and bliss.

-SAI BABA

 

Jnana (knowledge) does not mean mere acquaintance with books. Nor is it worldly knowledge. Only the person who has recognised that the individual is not distinct from the universal is a real Jnani (man of wisdom). True wisdom consists in awareness of the unity of the individual and the Samashti (collective whole). How can a man who is not aware of his humanness recognise the Divinity within himself? Hence the first requisite is the recognition by everyone of his human essence.

-SAI BABA

 

The pilgrim must traverse and go beyond the vast wastelands of worldly desires, overcome the thick slushy overgrowths of anger and hate, and negotiate the cliffs of ego and malice so that he can relax on the lush green pastures of harmony and love. Having thus become master of his inner foes, he must rest in the silence of his own heart, with all the agitations of his inner realm stilled. When the seeker is fixed thus in the undisturbed calm of his deepest consciousness, the flame of wisdom lights itself. At that moment, the seeker realizes that he is one with Universe, that he is the Indivisible Brahman.

-SAI BABA

 

He who thinks of the Lord with devotion can overcome any kind of Karma (consequences of past actions). With the grace of the Lord, one can experience even the otherwise unattainable bliss. Do not doubt the usefulness of Sadhana (spiritual exercise). Unshaken Bhakti (devotion) will win the grace of the Lord. If complete faith is placed in the Lord at all times, why should He deny you His grace? Generally men do not fully and unswervingly rely on the Lord. Faith is the product of peace and patience, not of haste and hurry.

-SAI BABA

 

Deepavali
Deepavali is a festival which is designed to celebrate the suppression of the Ego by the Higher Self. Man is plunged in the darkness of ignorance and has lost the power of discrimination between the permanent and the evanescent. When the darkness of ignorance caused by Ahamkara (ego) is dispelled by the light of Divine knowledge, the effulgence of the Divine is experienced.

-SAI BABA

 

The rope is mistaken to be a snake and the perceiver flees in fear. This tells us that the eye is but a window through which the soul sees the external world. The soul is the motive force of all the senses. Of what use is the eye, when you do not possess 'Samadrishti'. 'Sama' means Brahman, the Absolute Reality; 'Samadrishti' means seeing only Brahman, the One, in all things at all times. This Ekathwam (Oneness) is the fundamental truth. All other experiences are false. Dwell on that in your meditation. Fix it in your inner consciousness. That is the path of Liberation.

-SAI BABA

 

Avatarhood Declaration Day
If you wish to lead an ideal life, you have to follow the example of the Avatars (Divine incarnations). Avatars may appear in human form, but you should not equate them with ordinary mortals. In physical form, both may appear alike. But there is a fundamental difference. You should not mistake the cotton fruit for the mango. When man strays away from the path of righteousness, God comes in human form to reform him. Birds, beasts and insects lead lives according to their specific nature. It is only man who has given up all righteousness, forgotten his divine essence and degraded his humanness. The Avatar has to protect the good, reform the erring and punish the wicked.
 

-SAI BABA

 

Know that Paramatma (God) is the goal of man. Direct all attention to that goal. Control the mind that wanders away from it. This is the essence of the teachings of all the Shastras (scriptures). Be bound to the Atma in you. Take refuge in it. Meditate on it without interruption. Then the worldly bonds would loosen themselves, for the bond with which you attach yourself to the Lord has the power of unbinding all other bonds.

-SAI BABA

 

When a man's inner self is filled with love, his life becomes full of bliss and he is always hale and hearty. Today, man suffers from numerous ailments the root cause of which is a diseased mind. There is no death for the mind, though when the body is facing death the mind thinks it is dying. The mind, it has been said, is the cause of one's bondage or liberation. Bad thoughts beget bondage. Good thoughts lead to liberation. Hence, everyone should develop good thoughts and perform good deeds. Such good feelings can arise only out of love.

-SAI BABA

 

God will decide what to give, when to give, and where. Hence, all actions should be dedicated to God, and He will decide what the devotee is fit to receive. When everything is left to God out of pure love and total faith, God will take care of the devotee. People today lack such firm faith. In the path of devotion, many ordeals have to be overcome. Great devotees in the past faced such ordeals with faith and fortitude. Ultimately they secured the grace of the Divine and experienced bliss. For achieving anything in life, two things are essential: firm faith and pure love.

-SAI BABA

 

The human birth is very difficult to attain. The body is like a caravanserai, the mind is the watchman, and the Jeeva (individual soul) is the pilgrim. And so none of these has any kinship with the others. The pilgrim is bound for the city of salvation, Mokshapuri. For a trouble-free journey, there is nothing as reliable as Namasmarana, the remembrance of the name of the Lord.

-SAI BABA

 

Wherever there is a vacuum in any heart, love flows into it and is glad that it can fill the emptiness. It is never held back; it is offered in abundance without guile or deceit. It does not wear the cloak of falsehood, flattery or fear. The tendrils of love aspire to cling only to the garments of God. It senses that God resides in all His splendour in every heart. To discover that seat of God is real devotion.

-SAI BABA

 

Every act done with the consciousness of the body is bound to be egoistic. Selfless service can never be accomplished while being immersed in body consciousness. Consciousness of Deva (God) instead of Deha (body) will bring forth the splendour of Prema (Divine Love) from within the heart. With this idea as the inspiration and guide, man can achieve much good. We must cultivate the attitude that everything is as per God's will, that all is His Leela (Divine sport).

-SAI BABA

 

The present state of affairs is due to men losing faith in themselves and in the Shastras (Vedic scriptures). Even those who claim to have faith do not conduct themselves according to the Shastras. Consequently, virtues and goodness have declined in the world, and wickedness has gained the upper hand. If the current scenario is to be transformed and the world is to enjoy peace and security, everyone must cultivate faith in the Shastras and practice the injunctions enjoined therein. 

-SAI BABA

 

You have to develop human values. Without this, you are human merely in form. Man is filled with qualities such as anger, desire, greed, jealousy, etc. These are animal qualities. Anger is the nature of a dog. Wavering mind is the quality of a monkey. You are neither a dog nor a monkey. When you are in a fit of anger, remind yourself that you are not a dog and your anger will diminish. Many animal qualities are rampant in human beings today. What we need to cultivate are the human qualities of compassion, truth, forbearance, empathy, etc. 

-SAI BABA

 

A sincere seeker and devotee can have no interest in the worldly pleasures and passions. These inferior desires have to be renounced, for they lie at the root of all misery. What exactly is Moksha or liberation? It is the Shanti (unruffled peace) obtained through the Sadhana (spiritual endeavour) of Chittha Shuddhi or cleansing of the heart. It is the negation of the impressions one gets through the senses.

-SAI BABA

 

The Sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) must be vigilant not to lose his temper on trivial and petty matters, for that will retard his progress. Anger must be sublimated by systematic effort. One must resist the impulse to enter into discussions and arguments, for this breeds a spirit of rivalry and leads one towards feelings of anger and vengeance. Anger is at the root of all wrong behaviour. Hence, cultivate love towards all beings and thus keep undesirable habits and tendencies at bay.

-SAI BABA

 

When hardships overwhelm you, know that it is the consequence of your own past deeds. Do not blame the Lord and develop a grouse against Him. Do not pay heed to trouble or take it as such. Rather engage yourself in the service of others and perform meritorious deeds. Continue relying on the name of the Lord for support. That is the sign of wisdom.

-SAI BABA