Learning Through Reading

1313 · Oct 21, 2023

How and why should we practice the value of Truth? Bhagavan lovingly reminds us of this today so that we may sanctify our lives.

Truth, charity, penance, sacrifice, friendliness, purity, straightforwardness, service to the Guru, and study of the sacred scriptures—these are the nine precious gems that every seeker of knowledge should carefully cherish.
Dharma, Shanti, Prema, and Ahimsa can be found in a state where Truth and virtue prevail.

Truth is one, but the wise have called it by many names.
An ideal person is one who adheres to Truth and never deviates from it under any circumstances.

He lives a righteous life. Truth does not exist for one person alone. It transcends time, place, and individuals.
It is the life breath of all countries and all people, at all times.
The progenitor of humanity, the great Manu, after extensive study, analysis, and experience, gave humanity the following blessing: “Satyam bruyat, priyam bruyat, Na bruyat Satyam Apriyam” (Speak the truth; speak what is pleasing. Never speak a truth that is unpleasant).
Never tell a lie simply because it may be pleasing.
There is no need to speak a truth that is unpleasant!
—Divine Discourse, November 22, 1985

A kind word delights everyone. Why, then, be stingy with gentle words?

—Baba

1313 · Oct 22, 2023

What is the inner significance of the auspicious festival of Navaratri (the nine divine nights), dedicated to worshipping the Divine Mother? Bhagavan explains this to us today.

Recognizing one’s mother as the embodiment of all divine powers, one should show her reverence and treat her with love. This is the true message conveyed by the festival of the nine nights of Navaratri.
The Supreme Shakti manifests in the forms of Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
Durga endows us with energy—physical, mental, and spiritual.
Lakshmi grants us indescribable wealth of various kinds—not only money, but also intellectual wealth, wealth of character, and so on. Even health is wealth.
Saraswati endows us with intelligence, the capacity for intellectual inquiry, and the ability to discriminate (the power of Buddhi—editor’s note).
The festival of Navaratri is celebrated to proclaim the power of these Goddesses to the world.
One’s own mother is a combination of all these Divine entities. She provides us with energy, wealth, and intelligence. She constantly wishes for our progress in life. Therefore, she represents all three Goddesses whom we worship during the festival of Navaratri.
—Divine Discourse, October 14, 1988

Today, everyone should consider it their foremost duty to revere their mother as a goddess and serve her, regardless of country or circumstances.

—Baba

1313 · Oct 23, 2023

Reflect for a moment on what Jesus meant when he said: “...let the dead bury their dead” (Matthew 8:22). He meant that most people are dead but do not realize it! They have no aspirations, no initiative, no spiritual enthusiasm, and no joy in life.
What is the value of such a life? Life should be a continuous source of inspiration. To live mechanically means to be dead in spirit while your body is still breathing!
The reason why many people’s lives are so dull and uninteresting is that they draw their happiness from petty sources instead of turning to the inexhaustible source of all joy, hidden within themselves.

— Paramahansa Yogananda.
From the book “How to Be Always Happy.”

1313 · Oct 24, 2023

What can we do to always see the “empty nature of the world” and the enchantment that sustains it? Bhagavan lovingly explains and guides us.

Why strive for the nonexistent? Why ignore the “existent”? In other words, why neglect Sat (the eternal and unchanging)?
The search for the unreal is the root of all humanity’s fears, sorrows, and illnesses. Find, while you can, the key that will open the door leading to salvation. Surround yourself with the shield of “Nama-japa” (the life-filled, continuous repetition of God’s Name and contemplation of His Glory); then the unhealthy thirst for self-aggrandizement will no longer torment and poison you. Nama-japa will not let you forget the fundamental emptiness of worldly problems and the absurdity of becoming involved in them; you behave as though you are the creator of your destiny, but you are merely a wave formed on the breast of the ocean by a storm or a tide.
— Divine Discourse, May 11, 1971

We must cross the ocean of our troubles and difficulties using the power of the Divine Name.

— Baba

1313 · Oct 25, 2023

“Character makes life immortal; character exists even after death. Some say that knowledge is power, but I say that character is power. Even acquiring knowledge presupposes good character. Anyone can develop flawless character within themselves, without a trace of evil. These are the qualities that together constitute flawless character: love, patience, forbearance, perseverance, and responsiveness. These are the highest qualities; they should be developed.”

From the book: “Teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.” (A compilation of Sai Baba’s sayings by Walter and Elsie Cowen)

1313 · Oct 26, 2023

What truth do we sometimes forget, especially when we are going through difficult times? Today, Bhagavan lovingly reminds us of it so that we may conduct our daily lives in His presence.

The Divine Principle is the very essence of a human being. Realising this Truth is the purpose of life; it is the source of strength—unchanging and irresistible.
Close your eyes, and it will seem to you that there is no one around, although there are thousands. If you suffer from cataracts, you will not see the truth.
So too, Divinity is here, before you, behind you, within you, and outside you; and only the discerning intellect (Buddhi) can help you see Her!
She is always near you, but either you are blind, suffering from an affliction of sight, or, worse still, you deliberately choose to close your eyes!
You are holding a bird, yet you waste time and effort trying to catch it somewhere in the bushes; the trills that make you believe it is hiding in the undergrowth are merely echoes of the bird’s chirping in your own hand!
The Guru reveals the Truth and frees you from the torments and trials of searching for the bird in the thicket!
- Divine Discourse, 11 May 1971

You are a particle of the Divine. This is the great truth that everyone must realise and experience in its entirety.

- Baba

1313 · Oct 28, 2023

Why does God seem so far away from us, especially when we need Him most, in difficult times? Bhagavan lovingly dispels this myth.

The lotus in the human heart longs for the Sun of the Lord’s radiance. But reaching it is difficult.
Only renouncing all attachments to the world can win it! God is the closest and dearest Being, but ignorance conceals Him from our eyes. The love God bears for humanity is unparalleled, and yet to people He appears to be a distant, frightening, unattainable phenomenon. Stars seem like points of light because they are at a tremendous distance from us. In the same way, God seems insignificant or ineffective to many because they keep themselves too far from Him. If some people say that God does not exist, it only means that they are too far away to realise Him! A green pumpkin sinks in water, while a dry one floats.
Dry yourselves out; free yourselves from attachments, desires, anxieties and worries. Then you will be able to float unhindered on the waters of change and circumstance!

- Divine Discourse, 17 October 1966

Do not make God modern to suit your imagination. He is neither ancient nor modern. His countenance never changes, nor does His glory.

- Baba

1313 · Oct 29, 2023

Yugas are classified on the basis of the prevailing mental role. It is said that in Kritayuga, Dharma walked on four legs, happy and unharmed. In Tretayuga, Dharma had only three legs, whereas in Dvaparayuga it had to hobble along on just two! According to this tradition, in the present Kaliyuga Dharma has only one leg. The four legs are Sathya, Daya, Tapas and Dana. If a person possesses all four, it can be said that they are in Kritayuga, regardless of which Yuga they are in according to the calendar. If Sathya is unstable in a person, but they have the other three qualities, they are in Tretayuga. If both Sathya and Daya are absent, but Tapas and Dana remain, these people can be said to be in Dvaparayuga. If only Dana remains of the four, it is as though Dharma were standing on one leg, and a person who adheres to Dana, despite having none of the rest, is in Kaliyuga, even if chronologically they are in the period called Krita.
Yugas change only with a change in Dharma, not simply with the passage of time. The wicked Hiranyakashipu and the pure-hearted Prahlada both lived in the same chronological Yuga; the same Yuga witnessed Dharmaraja, the embodiment of righteousness and peace, and the notorious scoundrel Duryodhana. Thus, Dharma is what determines the Yuga for each person; one can always be in Kritayuga if one possesses all four qualities of Dharma. It is human conduct that creates or destroys history and brings about the replacement of the Golden Age by the Iron Age.

- BABA
DHARMA VAHINI, CHAPTER IX

1313 · Oct 31, 2023

If you think that God is far from you, then He is certainly far away. However, if you sincerely believe that God is very close to you and that He is your best friend, then He is as close to you as you are to yourself. It is a great mistake to believe that God exists only in a temple, a sacred place or a pilgrimage center. All this has been explained with utmost clarity by exalted souls who experienced Divinity within themselves. Certainly, traditional and ritual practices are necessary at the beginning. This is like learning the alphabet when we study a language. Once you have learned the alphabet, you can learn words such as “God.” Having learned words, you can form sentences. Once you learn to read sentences, you can read the whole book. Similarly, the sages of the past introduced people to the concept of Divinity, advising them to visit temples, holy places, and so on.
Sathya Sai Baba

1313 · Nov 2, 2023

What is the importance of worship and performing one’s duties on this path to the Self? Bhagavan lovingly reminds us today of the importance of all this and the role of the Guru.

When this “I” is in a state of rest during deep sleep, no world exists for you. You are alone when you sleep. Before your birth, no world existed for you. After your death, there is no world of which you are aware. To gain knowledge of your existence, you must pass through the preparatory schools of karma and upasana. Karma (dedicated activity) helps purify the heart of selfish impulses; upasana (worship) helps focus attention on the Universal and the Absolute. Then jnana (wisdom) arises. Karma and upasana depend on the Dharma of the particular stage of your life, as well as on the guna that governs you. Even nectar (amrita) would be harmful to life if drunk through the nose. For every seeker, there is a particular way of life, method of ascent, and path of progress. The true Guru knows what is best suited to you. This does not mean that the Guru is partial or biased; it simply means that he is kind and attentive. For he does not insist that everyone wear the same straitjacket.

Divine Discourse, March 3, 1965

The mind should not be affected by experiences of success and failure, gain and loss, prosperity and illness; it must be surrendered at the Feet of the Lord.

— Baba

1313 · Nov 3, 2023

Why is it important to renounce selfishness? Our Loving Lord reminds us today.

Almost every human activity is motivated by self-interest (svartha). This concern for one’s own interests contradicts the divinity inherent in human beings. Without being aware of this divinity, how can a person attain peace within or without? The individual, society, and the world—all three are inseparably connected. A person’s well-being depends on the condition of the nation. Everyone should strive to develop their spiritual qualities and use them to advance the interests of society and the country. Service to society should become a constant concern for every person. There is no greater quality in a human being than selfless love expressed through service to others. Such love can become a source of true bliss. It is necessary to correctly understand the relationship between karma and karma yoga. Ordinary karma (action) performed with attachment or desires binds. But desireless, selfless action becomes karma yoga. Our life should become yoga (Divine Union), not roga (disease).

Divine Discourse, April 6, 1983

To possess human qualities and lead a life worthy of that title, one must develop pure, selfless, boundless love.

— Baba

1313 · Nov 4, 2023

Do not forget God. The earthly world is what you should forget. God is omnipresent; He is present in all forms. It is foolish to set out in search of God when He is within you and all around you.

One who is spiritually blind cannot comprehend God.

Cultivate detachment and a spirit of devotion within yourself.

There are three ways of obtaining money from a bank. The first is simply to withdraw money from a current account. Spiritually, this means receiving the results of your past actions. The second way is to receive money from a fixed-term deposit at a modest rate of interest. This corresponds to receiving a reward for your present good deeds. The third way is to receive money from a long-term deposit at a high rate of interest. Spiritually, this means attaining divine grace through the guru. Who is the guru? He is the one who dispels the darkness within you.

Enshrine God in your heart.
It is not enough to praise God. You must love Him. You must become love itself in order to love the entire universe.

Discourse, 12 July 1995

1313 · Nov 6, 2023

There is nothing higher than pure love. You were all drawn to Me by this love. Giving love and receiving love is My business. No tax inspector knows the amount of “income” earned from this “business.” There is no limit to My Ananda (Divine Bliss). I am always immersed in bliss. This is because My bliss is connected with love, not with any material objects. If you follow this path, you too will attain indescribable bliss. You will experience peace of every kind. Regard good fortune and misfortune, happiness and sorrow, loss and gain equally. They are products of nature, like heat and cold, summer and winter. They have their own purposes to serve. Similarly, life’s ups and downs can teach us lessons. In fact, without failures in life, we cannot experience Divinity. Without darkness, we do not appreciate the light. Without experiencing difficulties, we cannot enjoy blessings. It is the lack of inner peace that compels us to seek ways of attaining eternal peace.

The Upanishads declare that immortality can be attained only through renunciation. Learn to practice renunciation and discover the secret of eternal peace and bliss!
- BABA
Divine Discourse, 6 April 1983

1313 · Nov 7, 2023

Why is it important to renounce selfishness? Our Loving Lord reminds us today.

Almost every human activity is motivated by self-interest (svārtha). This concern for one’s own interests contradicts the divinity inherent in human beings. Without being aware of this divinity, how can a person attain peace within or without? The individual, society, and the world—all three are inseparably connected. A person’s well-being depends on the condition of the nation. Everyone should strive to develop their spiritual qualities and use them to advance the interests of society and the country. Service to society should become a person’s constant concern. There is no better quality in a person than selfless love expressed through service to others. Such love can become a source of true bliss. It is necessary to properly understand the relationship between karma and karma yoga. Ordinary karma (action), performed with attachment or desires, binds. But action free from desires and selfishness becomes karma yoga. Our life should become yoga (Divine Union), not roga (disease).

Divine Discourse, April 6, 1983

To possess human qualities and lead a life worthy of this title, it is necessary to develop pure, selfless, boundless love.

— Baba

1313 · Nov 8, 2023

Devotee: Swami, our epics say that when God descends to earth as an avatar, even His enemies attain liberation. How can this be?

Swami: The demon Kamsa tried to destroy Krishna in every possible way after learning that he was destined to die at Krishna’s hands. Fear and hatred toward Krishna were constantly on his mind. Radha also constantly thought of Krishna, but for a different reason: she was overflowing with love for the Lord. Chandravali, Radha’s sister, on the other hand, felt constant hatred toward Krishna. In the end, all three attained liberation because they continuously thought of God.

But there is a great difference between these two methods. Attaining liberation through hatred is like drawing the Lord toward oneself with an iron chain. The method of love is a soft silk ribbon by which the Lord Himself is drawn toward you. At the heart of it all is the continuous contemplation of the Lord in the mind.

1313 · Nov 9, 2023

Sometimes we think and feel that we are not receiving God's grace sufficiently. Is that so? What is the reality? Our loving Lord reminds us of this today and inspires us.

My grace is always with you; it is not something that is given or taken; it is always given and received by the Consciousness that is aware of its significance. Win the grace of your own subconscious so that it may accept God's grace, which is always available. God rejects no one; it is only you who reject God! When you are offered a gift, you need perform only one small act to deserve it—extend your hand to receive it. This is Grace; win it by learning to appreciate God's grace. My grace pours forth everywhere you may be, through My infinite love, without even calculating or measuring the readiness of your subconscious to accept it and benefit from it. This grace itself will give you faith and strength, wisdom and joy. I am constantly in your heart, whether you know it or not!
- Divine Discourse, February 24, 1971

By worshipping with faith, you attain Grace. Faith leads to Grace, even if you are not aware of it.

- Baba

1313 · Nov 10, 2023

How should we act in our daily lives, and why exactly this way?
Bhagavan, the cosmic director of this play, lovingly reminds us of this today.

Activity is the fundamental principle of the Universe. Through activity, all beings are born; through activity, they sustain themselves; and through this activity, they perish. Constant breathing—inhalation and exhalation—maintains the body's temperature at a normal and comfortable level. The One who is beyond all activity assumed the forms of the five basic elements—ether, earth, air, fire, and water—to activate them and act.
To be active while constantly aware that all of this is merely action—that is the secret of happiness. This is Dharma, which must regulate and sanctify karma.
The achievements of technology that brought man to the Moon are also events in the cosmic drama, in which the principal performers carry out His design; identification with the adventure, its success or failure, causes the performers to experience pride or depression—states that do not contribute to inner peace and joy.
The secret of good karma is to perform actions as an act of worship, as a ritual of dedication to the Source of all energy and intelligence.
And never take the consequences of these actions to heart.
In this way, one can draw closer to the Divine Principle that lies beyond activity.

- Divine Discourse, May 11, 1971

Dedicate all actions to God. This is the path to attaining unity with God.

- Baba

1313 · Nov 12, 2023

Why should you feel fear or sorrow when the Lord is enthroned on the altar of your heart? Do you not know that He is there, protecting and guiding you? He is present in all beings and at all times. Try to remember this, whatever you do, whoever you associate with, and however you conduct yourself. You will succeed if you do not stop uttering His Name. A griha (home) where the Lord’s Name is not heard is a guha (cave), and nothing more. When you enter it, when you leave it, and while you are in it, perfume it, illuminate it, and purify it with His Name. Light it like a lamp at dusk and greet it at dawn, as you greet the sun. This is the true Deepavali, the festival of lamps.
- BABA
Divine Discourse, October 24, 1965

1313 · Nov 13, 2023

What qualities should a good father possess? Today, Bhagawan lovingly explains this to us in crystal-clear terms.

Peace and happiness cannot be found in wealth, social status, or power. All these produce only fear and anxiety, not happiness and peace. Today, even highly educated people do not understand this truth; they pass themselves off as devotees and follow the example of their parents. Hiranyakashipu tried in every way to turn his son, Prahlada, away from devotion to God. The child was subjected to every possible torture and ordeal: he was trampled by elephants, stung by cobras, and drowned in the sea. Prahlada’s devotion to the Lord saved him. Ignoring his wicked father, Prahlada remained faithful to the Lord. There is nothing great about being a father. No father can rejoice merely at the fact that a son has been born. A father rejoices at his son’s birth only when people praise the son’s virtues. A righteous son saves himself and redeems his family’s sins. Truly, only those who raise such virtuous children deserve to be called parents. Prahlada declared: "Only he is a father who tells his son: Child, realize God." He is the true Guru who leads the disciple to God." - Divine Discourse, May 6, 1992

The only desire a person should truly have is the desire for God.

- Baba

1313 · Nov 14, 2023

How should we act in our daily lives, and why exactly in this way?
Bhagavan, the cosmic director of this play, lovingly reminds us of this today.

Activity is the fundamental principle of the Universe. Through activity, all beings are born; through activity, they sustain themselves; and through this activity, they perish. Constant breathing—inhalation and exhalation—keeps the body temperature within a normal and comfortable range. The One who is beyond all activity has assumed the forms of the five basic elements—ether, earth, air, fire, and water—in order to activate them and act.
To be active while remaining constantly aware that all this is merely action—that is the secret of happiness. This is Dharma, which should govern and sanctify karma.
The achievements of technology that have taken human beings to the Moon are also events in the cosmic drama, in which the principal performers carry out His design; identification with the adventure, its success or failure, causes the performers to feel pride or depression—states that do not contribute to inner peace and joy.
The secret of good karma is to perform actions as an act of worship, as a ritual of dedication to the Source of all energy and intelligence.
And never take the consequences of these actions to heart.
In this way, one can draw closer to the Divine Principle, which lies beyond activity.

- Divine Discourse, May 11, 1971

Dedicate all actions to God. This is the path to attaining unity with God.

- Baba