Learning Through Reading

1313 · May 11, 2023

What should be regarded as God's gift to each of us, and how should we use it? Today, Bhagavan lovingly reminds us of this.

Man must realize that all pleasures gained by indulging the senses are fleeting and leave suffering in their wake. It is necessary to understand that the senses should be used for sacred purposes and for realizing human values. Only then will a person understand the true purpose of existence. The senses are given by God so that people may lead ideal lives. Try to see what is good, think good thoughts, speak pleasant words, and listen to what is beneficial. Be kind and do good. The ancient Indian sages practiced silence as a spiritual discipline because they recognized the countless benefits gained from Mauna (silence). Swami Vivekananda learned a valuable lesson when he discovered that after ten days of endless talking, he had forgotten all the shlokas (verses) he had memorized. By practicing complete silence for two weeks, he regained his ability to remember. People need to realize that God's grace is assured through the sacred use of the senses bestowed on human beings by God.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Divine Discourse, October 6, 1997.

Having received such an extraordinary and sacred birth as a human being, it is foolish to say that you cannot control your sense organs!
- BABA

1313 · May 12, 2023

How should devotion be "practiced"? Today, Bhagavan urges us to engage in self-analysis and self-improvement.

Devotion (Bhakti) is not a uniform for repentance that can be put on or taken off depending on the situation. Constables on duty wear uniforms with ribbons and medals; when they come home after their shift, they take them off and put on other clothes. Devotion cannot begin at a set time and disappear upon returning to normal life. It is a continuous, unchanging state of mind, an affirmed attitude, a path chosen and followed with particular care. Today, a person practices yoga (spiritual disciplines) in the morning, indulges in bhoga (idleness and luxury, the gratification of the senses) during the day, and at night tosses and turns in roga (illness)! Bhakti cannot be "performed" according to a daily schedule, nor can it be replaced by other fashionable entertainments. Bhakti is a constant, continuous attitude of mind, a habit of thought, and a way of life. Remain unwaveringly faithful to it, whatever may happen—whether dishonor, troubles, despair, deprivation, joy, prosperity, power, or luxury.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Divine Discourse, July 8, 1968.

Always chant the Name of God, and you will never be able to forget Him even for a moment.
- BABA

1313 · May 13, 2023

About Clairvoyants, Channelers, Mediums, Contactees, Madhusudan
Devotee: Swami, what actions should we take and what actions should we avoid for self-realization? We do not know this.
Swami: Do not believe in spiritualism or mediums (clairvoyants, channelers, contactees). Do not try to study or practice it. There you will see only evil spirits. God is not so easily attainable. God, who is the form of the Sattva guna (Purity), will never enter another body and speak to you through a clairvoyant. A human being is seven levels below God. Evil spirits are six levels below God. God's aura permeates all these levels.
Evil spirits are slightly stronger than humans. With this additional strength, they disguise themselves as gods. (Do not be deceived by these spirits. Beware!).

~ Karunamba Ramamurti, "Sri Sathya Sai Anandadayi: A Journey with Sai," Chapter 26, p. 292

1313 · May 14, 2023

Parable of the Day. THE WORRIED MOTHER VISITS GOD.

One day, a woman came to God. Her back was bent beneath the weight of a large sack.

“Are you tired, woman?” the Lord asked with concern. “Take your burden off your shoulders, sit down, and rest.”

“Thank you, but I won’t be long,” the woman declined. “I’ll just ask You something and go right back! What if something happens in the meantime? I’ll never forgive myself!”

“What is it that you wouldn’t be able to forgive yourself for?”

“If something happens to my child. I came precisely to ask You: Lord, save and protect him!”

“That is exactly what I do,” the Lord said seriously. “Have I ever given you reason to doubt my care?”

“No, but… There are so many dangers, bad influences, and sharp turns in this life! And he is at that age when he wants to try everything, get involved in everything, and somehow prove himself in everything. I’m terribly afraid he’ll lose control on a turn, hurt himself, and be in pain.”

“Well, next time he’ll be more careful, because he’ll learn firsthand what pain is,” the Lord replied. “That is very good experience! Why don’t you want to let him learn?”

“Because I want to spare him pain!” the mother exclaimed passionately. “You see, I always carry a sack of straw with me, so I can put it down wherever he might fall.”

“And now you want me to surround him with straw on all sides? Very well. Watch this!”

And the Lord instantly created a huge pile of straw and cast it into the world. It formed a ring around the woman’s son, shutting him off from all dangers, temptations, and enticements—and from life as well. The woman watched as her son tried to make his way through the straw, but in vain. He thrashed about, tried to tear the ring of straw apart, and swung from despair to rage. Finally, he somehow produced a box of matches and set the straw on fire. Flames leapt up, and smoke instantly obscured the entire scene.

“Sonny!” the woman cried. “Sonny, I’m coming to help!”

“Do you want to throw more straw onto the fire?” the Lord asked.

“Keep in mind: the more straw parents lay down, the stronger the desire to break through it at any cost. And if that fails, a person may even begin to burn through life.

After all, he does not know what pain is—and he does not know what freedom of choice is, either… You think this is a sack of straw, but in reality it is a sack of problems. It contains all the horrors you imagine, all the worries that live inside you, and all the fears you are filled with. Everything you think about and worry over gains strength and grows because you give it energy. That is why your burden is so oppressive and your back is so tired…”

“So I’m not supposed to care about my son?! And You, Lord, are telling me this?”

“Care for him as much as you like. But you must not worry. After all, I care for him too. Let me do my work as well. Just don’t get in my way! But, as I understand it, this is a question of faith…”

1313 · May 15, 2023

SWAMI ON TOOLS FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

The Upanishads speak of certain corrective sadhanas intended to remove obstacles on the path to inner peace. The first sadhana is Pranayama, the regulation of breath. Pranayama is not gymnastics, nor is it some incredibly difficult exercise. Inhalation is Puraka; exhalation is Rechaka. Holding the breath between them is Kumbhaka. The mind should concentrate on the period of retention and on the processes of inhalation and exhalation. When attention is fixed in this way, the inner conversation on other irrelevant topics will cease, and mental strength will be acquired.

The second sadhana is immersion in karma, beneficial activity—that is, service to people—which helps one get rid of the sense of ego: actions that are virtuous and pious. When thoughts are occupied with such activity, the mind turns away from the conversation in which it becomes involved.

Furthermore, such sadhanas as Shravana (listening to spiritual teachings), Manana (reflection on spiritual subjects), and Nididhyasana (discovering ways and means of confirming faith in the Spirit), as well as Japa (repetition of the names of God) and Tapas (withdrawing the mind from sensual pursuits), were prescribed by the scriptures chiefly to silence this mental chatter, this inner conversation—in other words, more as preparation for attaining Reality than for its Realization. Thereforeonly when the mind is purified and clarified can it successfully carry out such a complex and profound task. Only then can the lessons taught and the experience undergone remain pure and unsullied.

The second instrument given to human beings for their own spiritual upliftment is speech, that is, the use of words. Speech contains tremendous power. When, through speech, we tell someone something that disturbs their peace and balance or plunges them into sorrow, the words completely deprive them of physical strength and mental courage. They fall to the ground, unable to stand. On the other hand, when through speech we tell someone something happy or unexpectedly joyful, they gain the strength of an elephant. Words cost nothing, but they are priceless. Therefore, they must be used with caution. They should not be used for meaningless gossip, but only for pure and fruitful purposes.

The ancients recommended a vow of silence to cleanse speech of its defects. The mind turned inward toward the hidden vision of God, and speech directed toward outward vision—both contribute to spiritual strength and success.

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

"VIDYA VAHINI"

1313 · May 16, 2023

A person has three gifts: the mind, which enables them to think; the ability to speak, which enables them to convey their thoughts; and the ability to act, through which they can put their thoughts into practice, alone or together with others, for themselves and for others. The mind constructs thoughts, which may be either beneficial or harmful. The mind can lead a person into bondage, into ever deeper involvement in desires and disappointments. It can lead a person to freedom, detachment, and the absence of desires. The mind is a knot of likes and dislikes. Manas (the mind) is the place where manana resides (that which constantly returns to sensory and mental experiences).

The mind is involved in two types of activity: “Aalochana,” or planning, and “sambhaashana,” or dialogue. They are directed in different directions. Planning aims to solve the problems currently facing the mind. Dialogue multiplies problems and confuses solutions, causing disorder and leading to the adoption of wrong and harmful ways of solving them. Inner speech and contradictory chatter continue from morning until night, until sleep overtakes the mind. This is the cause of poor health and the premature onset of old age. The subjects underlying this chatter are mainly the mistakes and shortcomings of others, and their successes and failures. This endless dialogue lies at the root of all human suffering. It covers the mind impenetrable darkness. It very quickly becomes wild and suppresses the true meaning of humanity.

The conversation that goes on in the mind while awake continues to exist even in sleep, and robs a person of the rest they desperately need. And the overall result of all these manifestations is, to be honest, zero. No person can call themselves perfect and free until they have managed to stop this evil.

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

"VIDYA VAHINI"

1313 · May 17, 2023

Do we truly practice the ability to see God within ourselves and in everyone around us, especially in those moments when we feel hurt or angry? Bhagavan lovingly urges us today to self-examination and self-improvement.

These days, the principle “every man for himself” has become the guiding principle of people’s lives! The reason for this lies in ignorance of the fact that “all are one in God.” Awareness of this principle is the result of sadhana; conviction in it does not grow quickly, but it must be attained. The great sage Durvasa, known in the epics for his austerities, was also known for his anger when people treated him disrespectfully or disagreed with him! He was so touchy, so egotistical, so arrogant that he forgot about the unity of “all in God”! He was ready to severely curse anyone who showed disregard for his inflated ego! Then what were all those years of austerity for? Give everything you have and have acquired to the Lord. Sometimes, when you have extra money with you, you give it to a trustworthy friend, saying: “Keep it for me; I’m afraid I’ll spend it if it remains in my hands; I cannot trust myself.” God is the friend you should rely on! Therefore, give Him everything you have, and be free and happy! The only reason you do not do this now is your lack of faith! —
Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Divine Discourse, May 24, 1967

Virtue can be cultivated only in an atmosphere of faith in the existence of God; you must believe in His omnipresence, and that God is the witness, guide, and protector.
— BABA

1313 · May 18, 2023

How can we please God through sincere love for and service to our parents? Bhagawan lovingly explains this to us in His inimitable style.

Pundalik was massaging his elderly mother’s feet when God appeared before him! He did not interrupt his service, for he was serving that same God, but in the form of his mother! Tukaram pointed out to Pundalik that God Himself had appeared before him, but Pundalik did not even flinch. He asked God to wait a little until he had finished serving the God whom he had already begun to serve. A person’s inner impulse to love their mother is nothing other than an expression of their divine nature. If the divine spark were absent in a person, love would be absent as well! A loving person is one who acknowledges the existence of God, regardless of whether they go to the temple or not! Pundalik was not guilty of blasphemy when he asked Lord Panduranga to wait, because at that moment he was bowing before God in His most accessible form—the form of his mother. You must progress from the known to the unknown. In this way, love spreads in ever-expanding circles until it embraces everything in nature; until even plucking a leaf from a tree causes you such pain that you would not dare harm it!
Sri Sathya Sai Baba
— Divine Discourse, May 24, 1967

Hatred screams piercingly. Fear howls. Vanity trumpets. And only love sings lullabies.
— Baba

1313 · May 19, 2023

Sometimes we wonder why the Lord does not give us His guidance or bestow His grace upon us. What should we do to receive God’s guidance and grace? Bhagawan lovingly explains this to us today.

Only those who yearn to know the Duty to which they must remain faithful can grasp the Message brought by the Avatar. Otherwise, this Message will sound unconvincing and mechanical, like chatter from a gramophone record. But if the heart is “ploughed” by this aspiration and prepared for the seed, a harvest will surely follow. Arjuna was Krishna’s son-in-law; he had been the Lord’s companion and even His close friend for many decades! Despite this, the Message of the Bhagavad Gita was imparted to him only on the battlefield! Why? Because only by that time had Arjuna developed the attitude necessary to receive and preserve the Message. At first, Arjuna was perplexed by his duty and earnestly sought to shed light on it. He was torn between two paths and, despite all his insight and detachment, could not understand what his Dharma was. But then he surrendered all his judgments to God and, from the very depths of his heart, proclaimed with indescribable feeling: “I am Your disciple; I submit my entire existence to Your Will; tell me what to do, and I will obey.” — Divine Discourse, July 1970.

A person must develop the necessary concentration and strength of will to deserve God’s grace. You will be free from the bonds of karma as soon as you receive His grace.

— Baba

1313 · May 20, 2023

What is the best form of service, and when should it be performed? Bhagavan enlightens us today through a short story.

Once there lived a king who asked many learned men and sages: “What is the best form of service, and when is the best time to perform it?” But he received no satisfactory answer. One day, while pursuing his rival’s army, he fell behind his own troops and became lost in a dense jungle! He rode for a long time, becoming tired and hungry. At last, he came upon a hermit’s hut. The old monk kindly welcomed him and offered him a cup of cool water. After resting for a while, the king asked his host the question that had troubled him so much: “What is the best form of service?” The hermit replied: “Offer a thirsty person a cup of water.” “And when is the best time to perform service?” The answer was: “When a thirsty person has come from far away and desperately needs to quench their thirst.” The act itself should not be judged by its cost or by the attention it receives from others; it may be nothing more than an offering of water. But the need of the person in distress, as well as the attitude of the giver, determines whether the act is golden or made of lead! Fill every one of your actions with Love. Let no one suffer as a result of your thoughts, words or deeds. Make this your sadhana!
Sri Sathya Sai Baba
- Divine Discourse, May 24, 1967

Service is the highest form of prayer and penance. It acquires special meaning when it is an expression of love flowing from self-sacrifice.
— Baba

1313 · May 21, 2023

What should we seek in this life, and what should we strive for? Bhagawan lovingly reminds us why it is extremely important to strive for this already today.

Many times throughout human history, Avatars (Divine incarnations) have come and awakened people. But the animal nature of the past and demonic temptations draw people into a “quagmire,” where they recklessly indulge in sensual, material, and transient nonsense. Yet you have been given a wonderful opportunity to realize the purpose of your human existence. The Ananda (Bliss) that you hope to receive from family and loved ones, from wealth and worldly fame, is merely a pale shadow of the true Ananda that lies deep within your heart, where God Himself dwells. Try to establish a connection with this source; reach toward the very origin; focus on the Atma, or God within. Few seek true Ananda; many are led astray by the pseudo-ananda of the senses, intellect, and mind. True Ananda arises only from Truth. And Truth is Dharma, or each person’s duty toward themselves. Seek Truth, serve Truth, be Truth. Truth will reveal itself when the heart is filled with Love. — Divine Discourse, July 1970.

True bliss comes from a pure and loving heart. Try to experience such bliss. All other forms of happiness are transient.

— Baba

1313 · May 22, 2023

Q. What is moksha?

A. Moksha is liberation from everything that binds. It is the attainment of the eternal, ever-unchanging, ever-pure atma-tattva; freedom from the ever-changing, ever-unreal, impure deha-tattva.

Q. But not everyone can attain this, can they, Swami?

A. Why do you say that? Everyone who sets out on this path can attain it; all who make the effort attain it. Every sick person has the right to medicine; and you cannot say that only some of them have the right to it. However, if the medicine is expensive, only those who can afford to buy it are cured through it. It is difficult to obtain God's grace, and you will have to pay a high price. Pay it, earn it through sadhana—that is my advice—and by God's grace you will be saved from this bhavaroga (the disease of attachment to the world).

Q. Who needs this sadhana most of all?

A. The one who longs to be saved from the flood of “birth and death” that is engulfing them now.

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

From the book: “Prashnottara Vahini”

1313 · May 23, 2023

What are Bhagavan’s recommendations regarding the choice of clothing and activities for young people and sadhakas? Bhagavan lovingly shares them with us today.

I like simplicity; I like clothing that will not discourage people from approaching you for a kind word, a service, or a helping hand. Your clothing should be clean and modest, but not extravagant or strange. Clothing should not be worn to attract attention. Just as you want to wear clean, comfortable clothing for the body, you should also wish to engage in clean, joyful exercises for the mind, such as japa, dhyanam (repetition of the sacred word and meditation), and so on. Use your eyes to contemplate auspicious things; your feet to go to the House of God; your hands to serve the embodiments of God around you—that is, people; your tongue to soothe pain, praise virtue, and glorify God. Do not use your eyes to debase your mind or your feet to stand in line for harmful films. Character is the most precious gift of education. I consider gratitude its main component: gratitude, first and foremost, to one’s parents for the gift of life. — Divine Discourse, July 23, 1970

A person who has already received an education, just like a student who is still studying, should cultivate simplicity; they should give up boasting.

— Baba

1313 · May 24, 2023

To realize the full significance of the all-pervading sound "OM," one must possess self-control and be able to govern one’s senses. When reciting any mantra, one should begin with the sound "OM," because it is of paramount importance.

In the mantras “Keshavaya Namaha,” “Govindaya Namaha,” and “Narayana Namaha,” attention should also be paid to the word “Namaha,” which is pronounced at the end of these mantras. The word “Namaha” means “reverence” or “worship,” but this meaning is lost if “OM” is not uttered at the beginning of each mantra. Only when “OM” is pronounced at the beginning of the mantra and “Namaha” at the end does the mantra acquire both power and meaning.

We should acknowledge the inseparable connection between “OM” and “Namaha.” The word “Namaha” symbolizes Nature, while “OM” symbolizes God. Thus, the mantra reveals the connection between Nature and God.

Sathya Sai Baba
Divine Discourse, October 1, 1984

1313 · May 25, 2023

What should we develop in our lives, and what helps us move forward? Bhagavan lovingly inspires us today.

You should develop an attitude of inseparable attachment to the Lord, who is your "Self." If He is a flower, feel yourself to be the bee that absorbs His nectar. If He is a tree, be the vine clinging to Him. And if He is a rock, feel that you are a small waterfall cascading from Him. If He is the sky, be the tiny star that twinkles within it. Above all, realize the truth that you and He are bound by Supreme Love. If you deeply feel this—not with a gross mind, but with a subtle mind—your journey will be swift and your goal will be attained. Sthula-buddhi (the gross mind) enables you to move forward, while the subtle mind takes you to your goal. The gross mind is too heavily burdened by the body, whereas the subtle mind transcends the body and lightens its burden!
Sri Sathya Sai Baba
— Divine Discourse, January 30, 1965.

God will yearn for you a thousand times more than the extent to which you yearn and thirst for Him.
— Baba

1313 · May 26, 2023

THE GITA HELPS CONTROL THE AGITATION OF THE MIND

The Gita urges you to seek answers and points out the direction in which you should look for them. It helps you control Thought (Chitta), that is, the confusion inherent in the mind; it dispels delusion, develops true knowledge, enables you to behold the greatness of God, and strengthens your faith. For example, at one moment you say, “Baba does everything; I am merely an instrument of His actions,” and a minute later the same lips utter: “I did this, I did that—and I did it myself, not Swami.” If you never make such mistakes, you can be sure that God will not withhold His Grace from you.

All hearts belong to God; they are all His domains. But just as a landowner (Zamindar) sits only in a clean place, although he owns all the surrounding territory, so the Lord enters only a purified heart. The Lord said: “Mad-bhakta yatra gāyanti, tatra tiṣṭhāmi, Nārada” — “I will enter only the hearts of those who sing My praises, Narada.” I must point out that you are more fortunate than people of previous generations. Such good fortune must be due to the sum of the merits you have developed and accumulated over numerous rebirths. You have found Me, and now your only duty is to develop this connection with God, which was simply bestowed upon you by destiny. Do not be like the frogs around the lotus; be like the bees. Mangoes are kept in straw, in an enclosed space, until warmth makes them ripe and delicious. Divine meditation creates the conditions necessary for your maturation.

Sathya Sai Baba

(Prashanthi Nilayam, 27-9-1960)

1313 · May 27, 2023

How should we choose our friends? Bhagavan lovingly explains this to us today using simple examples.

When you have high status and a good social position, everyone will try to become your friend, saying, “Hello, hello!” But when difficult times come and you lose your position, everyone will avoid you. This is not true friendship. What is true friendship? A true friend is one who will follow you like a shadow, always—in joy and sorrow, in wealth and poverty. When a reservoir is full of water, thousands of frogs settle in it. But when it dries up, there will not be a single frog in it. Likewise, when you hold a good position and have high status, everyone will follow you. But when difficult times come and you lose your position, everyone will run away from you. Such friendship is not true friendship. Do not befriend everyone who says “Hello, hello!” This is a great mistake. You should learn about the background, habits, behavior, upbringing, and other qualities of the people with whom you wish to become friends. You should also try to find out whom they associate with and what kind of company they keep.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba
— Divine Discourse, July 8, 1996.

Accepting God as your friend, your heart as your teacher, and the world as the Great Book, acquire the knowledge you seek.
— Baba

1313 · May 28, 2023

GUIDANCE FOR THE NIGHT. LAY YOUR EGOISM AT THE LORD’S FEET

Atma is God Himself. So what is the point of offering Him Himself? What you must bring to His feet is your egoism, your Ahankara! Lay at His feet your pride, your sense of separation from other people, all your delusions and all your attachments conditioned by egoism! This will be your worship of God.

Bring Me everything that is impure within you, and in return I will give you what I have—Prema—and I will teach you to see everything happening around you as occurring by the will of the One Paramatman, or Supreme Soul, that is, Sarva sama bhavane.
Analyze your actions and their motives daily, and then you will be able to assess your own progress. Cultivate only pure motives and pure actions. You have forgotten that you are Atman; now the time has come to remember it. This is the goal you must attain. At first glance, the task seems extremely easy, but in reality it is one of the most difficult tasks. The eyes are located so close to the ears, yet they never see them!

In the palace of a king lived a jester who irritated everyone by always asking a multitude of questions. In the end, to get rid of the tiresome jester, the king ordered a sign to be hung that read: “No questions!” However, when he found himself on his deathbed, the king summoned his jester and whispered to him: “I am leaving.” The jester then showered him with questions: “Shall I bring you the royal chariot? Or perhaps an elephant, a horse, or a palanquin? Where exactly are you going? How long will you stay there?” The jester was wise. But he knew only the questions and did not know their answers, just as the king did not know the answers either. Yet you pass an examination successfully only when you know the answers!

Sai Baba

(Prashanti Nilayam, 27-9-1960)

1313 · May 29, 2023

VIKSHEPA (inattention). The mind is always inclined to turn toward external objects, and therefore constant effort is necessary to turn it inward, away from sensory impressions. This should be done through regular training of the intellect, that is, by undertaking inquiry. Distinguish clearly and gain the firm inner conviction that everything fleeting, transitory, changing, and prone to destruction is unreal (mithya) and untrue (asat). See for yourself: what is considered pleasant or perceived as unpleasant is merely the transient result of the contact between the senses and the objects of the senses. Learn to avoid the temptations of the external world and immerse yourself in deep meditation, dhyana.

Sathya Sai Baba

From the book: "Jnana Vahini"

1313 · May 30, 2023

Dear ones!

A little knowledge is dangerous; it makes a person overconfident. It leads to their downfall. Egoism is the main cause of all misfortunes.

Realization is peace. Laziness is “rusting.” Is this not true? The disciples’ obedience and Swamiji’s Divine Blessings make the path to Self-Realization easier. Life without Swamiji is like a boat without a rudder. By churning the milk of your mind through self-inquiry, you will obtain the butter of Knowledge. Without this, spiritual knowledge will not enter the vessel of your mind, just as water cannot remain in an overturned vessel. Love is the manifestation of Self-Illumination. The human heart is the temple of the Divine. Do not set it alight with the notions of “mine” and “yours.”

“Lost time is lost life.” Fulfilling your duty, even if it is not a great one, regardless of everything else, leads to the awakening of Self-awareness. The ego limits a person and pushes them into darkness. Truth is the flame of life that helps a person rise to the summit of all achievements! Evil people do not go to hell, but kindle the flames of hell wherever they are. Water cannot be held in a basket, and wisdom cannot be held in a passionate mind. The mind is like a dog wandering without any chain.

This is My Love...

With Blessings, Baba.
17.7.1972