Why is it so important to realise the purpose of life and act accordingly? Bhagavan lovingly explains this to us today.
To a superficial observer, life seems to be an alternation of eating and drinking, work and sleep. But in reality, life has a much greater and deeper meaning. Life is a sacrifice (yajna). Every little action is an offering to the Lord. If the day passes in activities performed in such a spirit of devotion, then what can sleep be but complete immersion in Divinity (samadhi)? People make a great mistake by identifying themselves with the body. They accumulate many things to maintain and comfort the body. Even when the body grows weak and decrepit with age, people try to sustain it by one means or another. But how long can death be postponed? When Yama's command comes, everyone must depart. Position, pride, power—all of this vanishes before death. Understanding this, day and night, with purity of body, mind and spirit, strive to realise the Higher Self through service to all living beings. The body should be maintained only as a means for this service. Remember that you are not this body; this body cannot be you! — Ch. 6, Prema Vahini.
You must surrender yourself completely to God. Only then will you be able to become one with Him.
Why should we not become discouraged as we progress along the path of sadhana? Bhagavan lovingly reminds and encourages us today.
Any task can be accomplished through practice. Practice is necessary for everything in life, whether walking, speaking, eating, reading or writing. In childhood, your mother teaches you words such as mother (amma) and father (appa). All of this comes only through practice. You say that you want peace. This too requires a certain amount of effort. You all squat on the floor. Without practice, you would not even be able to sit cross-legged. If you want to put on a play, you begin rehearsing at least ten days in advance. The world is like a stage. Everyone is an actor. God is the director. Everything in this drama of life requires practice. Divinity can be attained only by following the spiritual path. The fire of wisdom is present in every person. If this fire of wisdom is neglected, it becomes covered with the ashes of ego, attachment and hatred. Where do ashes come from? They arise only from fire and eventually cover the fire itself. In the same way, Divinity is present in every person. If you want to behold your innate Divinity, first you must remove the ashes of ego, attachment and hatred. — Divine Discourse, 22 August 1996.
Only through practice (abhyasa) can a person gain control over the mind and attain peace.
What highest attainment must we never forget to strive for? How is it connected with the habits we follow every day? Today, Bhagavan explains.
The first spiritual practice (sadhana) is to look for faults and weaknesses within oneself, strive to correct them, and become perfect. The continuous effort of each successive day has this completion as its purpose and justification: to make one’s final days easy and pleasant. But every day also has its evening. If the day has been spent in good deeds, the evening blesses us with deep, invigorating, and refreshing sleep akin to samadhi. Human life on Earth is short. Yet even during this brief life, one can attain divine bliss if one uses time wisely and carefully. Two people who look alike, supposedly made from the same dough, grow up under identical conditions, yet one becomes an angel while the other remains governed by his animal nature. What causes such different development? Habits! Behavior formed by habits, and character in which that behavior has become firmly established. People are beings of character! — Ch. 5, Prema Vahini.
Good work and selfless love will help you follow the path of wisdom.
Why is it necessary to remain vigilant about the mind’s whims? Today, Bhagavan lovingly reminds us of this.
The mind represents the totality of impressions (vasanas). In essence, the mind is its own creation (jagat) and the entire world for a person. In deep sleep, the mind does not function, and therefore creation effectively does not exist for that person. Creation is born (or “enters consciousness”) and dies (or “disappears from consciousness”) in accordance with the mind’s thought power. Therefore, when the mind is destroyed, the world is also destroyed, and the person attains freedom and liberation. One who achieves control of consciousness (chitta) can gain the vision of the Atman. Discard the seed of “I,” and all activity of consciousness will automatically disappear. A spiritual seeker striving for such results must always remain vigilant. At any moment, the senses can reclaim their lost dominion and enslave a person. The seeker may lose a considerable part of what has already been attained. That is why one is warned against attachment to the world.
— Ch. 7, Jnana Vahini
The ego is the invisible cause of the ups and downs that a person struggles with throughout life.
— BABA
Why is it necessary to be vigilant about the whims of the mind? Today, Bhagavan lovingly reminds us of this.
The mind represents the totality of impressions (vasanas). Essentially, the mind is its own creation (jagat) and the entire world for a person. In deep sleep, the mind does not function, and therefore creation effectively does not exist for that person. Creation is born (or “enters consciousness”) and dies (or “disappears from consciousness”) in accordance with the mind’s power of thought. Therefore, with the destruction of the mind, the world is also destroyed, and a person attains freedom and liberation. One who achieves control of consciousness (chitta) can gain a vision of the Atman. Cast away the seed of “I,” and all activity of consciousness will automatically disappear. A spiritual seeker striving for such results must always remain vigilant. At any moment, the senses may reclaim their lost dominion and enslave a person. The seeker may lose a significant part of what has already been attained. That is why one is warned against attachments to the world.
- Ch. 7, Jnana Vahini
The ego is the unseen cause of the ups and downs with which a person struggles throughout life.
- BABA
Why, in our age of instant gratification and rapid results, is it necessary to possess the boldness and courage to persevere in spiritual practice? Today, Bhagavan lovingly reminds us of this.
A stone may not break after twenty blows of a hammer, but the twenty-first blow will break it! Does that mean the twenty blows were useless? No! Each of them contributed to the final success! The final result is the cumulative effect of all twenty-one blows! In the same way, the mind is engaged in a struggle with both the inner and outer worlds. Needless to say, success does not always accompany you. But you can attain eternal bliss by immersing yourself in good deeds and filling your mind with love for God! Fill every moment of life with such love. Then evil tendencies will be unable to block your path. When your mind constantly dwells on the Lord, you will involuntarily engage only in good deeds. The goal of all spiritual practices is to quieten the mind, and one day a single good deed will destroy it, just as the twenty-first blow broke the stone! All the good deeds performed in the past contribute to this victory; every little thing matters; no good deed is ever wasted!
- Ch. 28, Prema Vahini.
Character is formed through the constant practice of good deeds.
- BABA
Do not expect death to free you from your imperfections. After death, you will remain exactly as you were before. Nothing will change; you will only leave your body.
If you are a thief, liar, or swindler before your death, you will not become an angel simply by dying. If that were possible, we would all go and jump into the ocean and instantly become angels!
Whatever you have done with yourself before, you will remain the same afterward. And when you are reborn, you will bring that same nature with you.
To change, you must make an effort. This world is precisely the place to do it.
Which of the abilities bestowed upon human beings is the most remarkable, and how can it best be used? Today, Bhagavan lovingly explains this.
Embodiments of Love!
The power of speech bestowed upon humanity is very important and magnificent. It is the source of all blessings. Speak pleasantly and gently, in an acceptable manner. Only such pleasant speech leads to abundance and prosperity. Through words, one can gain many friends, connections, and even kingdoms.
We have relationships with some people, but through kind words we can establish mutual understanding and relationships with the whole world.
Spiritual conversations educate us and improve our standing in society. Know that words infused with negative thoughts and feelings can lead not only to the loss of freedom but also to death.
There is both good and bad in the words we utter. For one whose speech is pleasant, the entire Universe becomes a home! They will discover that there is one caste—humanity.
To attain Divinity, one must embark on the spiritual path. Kind words combined with humility will help one reach new heights.
— Divine Discourse, September 11, 1998
Words can imprison you or grant you freedom.
— BABA
Is it possible for the Lord to overlook you, considering that you are merely one of His many devotees? Bhagavan lovingly explains how we can earn His love and grace.
Very often, when people go through life's hardships, they complain: “Why does the Lord subject me to such trials?” But the truth is that the Lord neither punishes nor rewards anyone. Devotees should perform their duty and leave the result to God. If your actions are good, their fruits will also be good. But if your actions are bad, the results will correspond accordingly.
It is pointless to blame God for what happens in your life without considering the nature of your own actions.
It is said that one devotee exclaimed: “O Lord! How will You turn Your gaze toward me when there are still millions of beings on earth? You do not notice me at all. Would You not be willing to look at me?”
The devotee heard a voice: “O devotee! You are so absorbed in your affairs that you pay almost no attention to Me. You have not devoted a single thought to Me. Therefore, who has forgotten whom: have you forgotten Me, or have I forgotten you?”
People are occupied with worldly concerns and deeply immersed in their routines. All their thoughts are connected with these activities. They worry about a relative or friend in some distant corner of the world, but do not think of God, who is so close to them. And when they fall into trouble, they complain: “Lord, have You really forgotten me?” — Divine Discourse, May 3, 1987
To surrender oneself to the Lord’s will means to remain in an uninterrupted current of love for His feet.
— BABA
Accept everything as it is and when it happens! Do not seek to look too far into the future with the help of astrologers. Most of them are mistaken, and the initial information you provide them with is incomplete and unreliable.
Taking care of your inner panchangam is what is truly vital!
Panchangam is our five sense organs.
Train your mind, keep your senses under control—and your inner world will remain with you, regardless of fluctuations in market prices and the abundance of rain.
Do not panic because the panchangam tells you about a planetary alignment—the ashtagrahakuta. Its consequences are greatly exaggerated; nothing extraordinary will happen.
Pralaya (the end of the world) takes place to a greater extent in your frightened mind than in nature.
If you have earned the Lord’s anugraha (blessing), no graha (planet), or even a multitude of grahas, can harm you.
Why should we remain vigilant while training our sight, hearing, thinking, and speech? Bhagawan lovingly reminds us today.
People have accustomed their eyes, ears, and tongue to excesses brought about by constant novelty. That is why it is important today to accustom ourselves to opposite pursuits.
The mind must be directed toward goodness; therefore, this is how we must shape our lives. Every action of yours is a chisel blow against the stone of human character. A mistake can spoil and disfigure the stone. Therefore, even the most insignificant actions must be performed with great care and devotion. Even a reed can help someone who is drowning. Likewise, for a person struggling in the sea of innate desires, a few kind words spoken by someone can provide tremendous help.
No good deed will go unnoticed, just as no bad deed will, for everything has its consequences.
Therefore, strive not to allow even the slightest trace of bad actions. Let only purity appear before your eyes. Let your ears be caressed by the words of the Lord and stories about the Lord; do not allow yourself to listen to slander. Let your tongue speak beneficial, kind, and truthful words, and always remind you of God. Continuous efforts of this kind will undoubtedly lead you to victory. — Prema Vahini, chapter 27.
The highest form of worship of God is good qualities, good thoughts, good actions, and good company.
— BABA
What is the path of greatness that we must all embark upon? Bhagawan lovingly and with utmost clarity guides us today.
Do not allow the slightest trace of a desire to offend, hurt, harm, or cause suffering to others to enter your behavior, actions, or speech. Practice this way of life, seek the best way to transform yourself, refrain from destroying yourself and your own well-being, and always follow the path of truth.
This is a wonderful path, and it is captivating! Of course, if you possess magnanimity. People can acquire this quality only if they have:
1) an innate aspiration toward it (samskara), and
2) devotion in every action.
Through devotion to the Lord, a person gains humility, fear of sin, and faith in the Holy Scriptures. These qualities overcome the limitations of the mind, and magnanimity awakens in people.
Therefore, O Seekers! Above all, direct your efforts toward gaining faith in God and fear of sin.
These two factors will help you attain humility; and remember: humility is peace! — Prashanti Vahini, chapter 15.
A person of truth is one who puts good habits into practice, always offers help, and never causes harm.
— BABA
Professor Frank Baranowski, a psychologist and regression therapist, specializes in the study of auras—the energy patterns surrounding all living beings—and works at the University of Arizona. He is an expert in photographing the radiation of the biomagnetic field.
He photographed and interpreted people's auras using a highly sensitive Kirlian camera.
Professor Baranowski read several books about Sri Sathya Sai Baba, including Samuel Sandweiss's book “Sai Baba, the Saint and the Psychiatrist.”
He wondered whether such a person could really exist and whether everything written about him was factual. Since he was writing a book on reincarnation at the time, based on specific examples and other findings, he became interested in Sri Sathya Sai Baba's claim that he was the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba.
During Christmas in 1977, Professor Baranowski was a guest in a house where a bhajan session was taking place.
Unfamiliar with this form of worship, he withdrew to an upstairs room. He was resting quietly in the dark room when, to his surprise, a candle suddenly flared up on the table.
The bright flame illuminated a nearby photograph of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. He could not understand who might have lit the candle. He was alone in the room. There was no sound, and no one had entered. How could a flame suddenly appear on the candlewick?
He stared at the photograph, and it affected him deeply. It seemed to penetrate him and draw him toward it. For a man of science, the event was completely inexplicable.
The thought of Sri Sathya Sai Baba stayed with him for a long time after the candle experience.
He decided to travel to India and visit Sai Baba.
Here is his account of his first meeting with Baba, in his own words:
Sathya Sai Baba? Yes, I had heard of him, but with a great deal of mixed emotion.
The stories attributed to this man bordered on the incredible.
As a man of science, I know about psychosomatic healing, and I have witnessed miraculous healings performed by famous individuals. And yet there were rumors of a Man from India who could heal people with a single touch. The stories were unbelievable.
In July 1978, I found myself at the first World Conference in Bangalore. I had heard that Sathya Sai Baba lived in a place called Whitefield.
This small community could boast a college founded by Sathya Sai Baba and dedicated to science and commerce. When I arrived by taxi, the first thing I noticed was the refreshing cleanliness of the area.
Despite the heat and stifling humidity, hundreds of Indians and foreigners crowded the grounds around Sathya Sai Baba's ashram. I joined the patient gathering, squatting among Eastern faces. I did not have to wait long for Sathya Sai Baba to appear.
I must admit that the first time I saw him, he did not impress me.
He was short and walked among the people as though something were distracting him. He scarcely spent any time looking at or speaking to a person—then he would suddenly turn his head as if looking for someone else. It was only the next morning that I realized I was seeing a man endowed with extraordinary abilities.
It was about five o'clock in the morning, and the devotees were singing religious songs and singing during a parade around the complex in Whitefield when Sathya Sai Baba emerged from his residence.
By then I could always see the human aura.
The auras around ordinary people extend three to five feet. Auras consist of every conceivable color, and these colors change as a person's emotional, physical, and mental state changes.
Generally, when blue appears in a person's aura, it is a sign of deep spirituality; green is a healing color; yellow indicates high intelligence; and red indicates anger or frustration.
Pink, a color rarely seen, symbolizes a person capable of selfless love, and this was the color surrounding Sathya Sai Baba. The aura around Sathya Sai Baba extended beyond the building, reaching thirty or forty feet in every direction.
Never having seen such an aura before, my first thought was to look for fluorescent lamps that might have been illuminating him. But as I watched, the beautiful pink energy pattern moved with him; there was no doubt that it was his aura.
Fascinated by this remarkable sight, I could barely hear the devotional songs being sung, and before I realized it, Sathya Sai Baba had left. The crowd settled into their familiar cross-legged positions and prepared to wait for Sathya Sai Baba's next appearance, four hours later.
I have had the pleasure of meeting such figures as former President Gerald Ford, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, and Pope John Paul II, and I have studied their auras, as well as those of tens of thousands of others. I say this not as testimony but as a fact: no person I have ever seen has an aura comparable in size and color to Sathya Sai Baba's!
The heat was extraordinary, and humidity hung over the gathering like a wet cloth. Amid the singing, several anxious eyes watched the threatening sky; dark clouds foretold torrential storms. But all the devotees around me reassured one another: “Sathya Sai Baba will not let this rain fall.”
Then he appeared again, and I felt my heart beat faster when he turned in my direction.
Soon he stood beside me, looked at me, and then made a quick movement toward the person sitting next to me. Suddenly lilies began appearing in his palms, and as they spilled out, the petals filled the cupped hands of the person sitting there. But the flower petals did not stop; they continued filling the waiting hands of a second, third, and then fourth person!
When Swami turned away, he looked in my direction, as if saying, “You saw that?”
I could not help but witness what had happened.
To forestall possible arguments, Sathya Sai Baba's sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. So these petals appeared by magic. And I was not, for example, hypnotized into believing that I was seeing them, because I am a licensed hypnotist myself and very difficult to hypnotize.
Within the limits of my understanding, it was difficult to believe that I had just witnessed this miraculous demonstration.
I sat there in the same position for a very long time, stunned by what I had seen!
The next morning I felt drawn back to the very same place, where I sat in the lotus position and waited for Sathya Sai Baba to appear again.
As I sat quietly, I heard a voice in my consciousness telling me that I should cross the field, pass through the area where the women were standing, and speak to a man standing opposite the building there. I did not feel comfortable approaching a stranger, especially in a foreign country where there was a language barrier, but I could no longer ignore the voice in my consciousness.
I crossed the field and saw a man standing by the building. I spoke to him.
“I hope you speak English. I have a voice in my head telling me that I should speak to you.”
He introduced himself as Professor Narender and said, “You must be the lecturer Sathya Sai Baba was talking about.”
I am a lecturer; I have given about 9,000 lectures around the world. But how did this man know that?
Over the next four days I observed Sathya Sai Baba and his people. He comforted them and gave them hope.
As he walked among them, the beautiful pink color in his aura permeated the fiery red colors in the crowd.
His selfless love surpassed their fears and anxieties. Perhaps you must meet HIM to understand his gifts. He gives himself to thousands of people from all over the world who await His blessings.
Professor Narender told me that on Friday afternoon I would be speaking at Sathya Sai Baba's college.
Eight hundred students, and then one hundred faculty members, listened to my lecture.
Standing beside Sathya Sai Baba, I saw his aura extending beyond the platform. It surrounded everyone in the room. Soon his love—and that is the only word I can use to describe the warm, joyful, completely absorbing emotions we experienced that evening—reached every person in the room, and they began singing prayers to Bhagavan.
The word “avatar” is often used when referring to Sathya Sai Baba, meaning someone who possesses Christ-like or God-like power and who may even be God Himself.
Now, I am a devout Catholic. And yet I would be a fool if I failed to understand the powers HE possesses.
Amid the singing, the Avatar turned to me and said, “Because you are a man of such great love...” and he showed me an empty palm.
He rotated his hand in the air three times and produced a ring with nine precious stones of the world set in gold.
He said, “This will fit only the first finger of your right hand.”
And indeed, it was the only finger on which the ring fit.
It is magnificent! It is a beautiful ring! But it has special meaning for me because this great man, this avatar, bestowed it on me with the words: “because you are a man of such great love...”
The next day Sathya Sai Baba honored me again by granting me a private audience. I was eager to discuss with him not only reincarnation but also my grandson. The boy had been born with a heart defect. At the age of one, he weighed just under seven pounds. Numerous operations left him with little hope of a normal life, even if he survived at all.
But before I could tell Sathya Sai Baba about this, he told me that on the day I arrived home in Arizona, the operation would be performed and the child would be well.
I said, “You must be mistaken. The child is not yet old enough to undergo the operation. The doctors said the minimum age for the operation would be two, or even two and a half.” Sathya Sai Baba merely smiled and said, “No, it will be on the day you return home.”
He was right. On the day I arrived in Arizona, the child underwent surgery. The doctor who performed the operation gave my grandson little hope of survival. When my daughter introduced me to the doctor, I learned that he was from India. I told him I had just returned from there and mentioned some of the places I had visited. When I mentioned Whitefield, he interrupted me and asked, “That is where Sathya Sai Baba resides, isn't it?”
I agreed and showed him the ring with which I had been blessed. The doctor looked at me with shining eyes and said, “The child will live,” as though all that was needed was the mention of Sathya Sai Baba's name.
The child survived.
Perhaps, of all the miracles I witnessed during my ten days in India, no miracle compares with the miracle of Swami giving so much love to so many people.
In my estimation and based on my experiments, Sri Sathya Sai Baba, from the standpoint of the aura, is exactly who he says he is and whom he asks everyone to be. He is love, pure and simple.
He is love walking on two legs. Such selfless love is nothing less than divinity.
His own words say it best—
“Love. Keep loving and everything will be all right.”
What is the true “import and export” that we should all practice? Today, Bhagavan gives a beautiful message filled with profound meaning.
Students! The sacred feelings that arise in your hearts should be exported, while everything good outside you should be imported. No passport or visa is required for this! Realize the truth that everything is within you. You do not need to seek anyone, not even God, because you are all sparks of the Divine. You possess divine qualities and divine power. If you did not have divine power within you, you would not be able to study well.
Thus, everything is within you.
You are embodiments of peace, love, and bliss; you are embodiments of God. Have deep faith in this Truth. If you live with complete faith in God, you will never encounter difficulties.
“Life is a Challenge, meet it. Life is Love, enjoy it; life is Energy, master it and do not suppress it.”
When you master energy, there will be perfect balance in everything you do. Once you attain this balance, spiritual illumination will come to you! — Divine Discourse, September 11, 1998
Human life itself is incredibly sacred. But it becomes good or bad depending on the company you keep.
— BABA
The mind is the creator of illusions: it jumps from one doubt to another and builds obstacles for itself. It weaves a web and then gets caught in it. It is always dissatisfied; while pursuing a hundred things, it runs after yet another! It is like a driver who takes his master wherever he pleases. So make an effort to train this driver and turn him into a true servant! He can be reformed if only you know how to do it. Offer him increasingly delicious food, and he will reach for it. Having recognized the value of namasmarana, he will accept this method, which leads to peace and joy. So start now! This is My instruction to you today.
Who is responsible for the troubles we experience in our lives? Bhagavan lovingly explains this to us so that we may attain happiness.
At the foundation of everything are a person’s thoughts. They find expression in external forms, but reflect the person’s inner essence. This can be illustrated by a simple example. When a person wants to build a house, they plan in advance how the rooms should be arranged. Later, these ideas are embodied in blueprints. First come the thoughts, and then they take concrete form. Similarly, when you want to write a letter, you first think about what needs to be written, and only then begin writing. Thoughts lead to actions. Without sankalpa (firm, resolute thoughts), there can be no action. Therefore, it is very important to have sacred thoughts. Every modern person should realize that all their troubles and misfortunes are caused by their bad thoughts. Everyone believes that someone else is to blame for their troubles. But this is not so. You alone are responsible for everything good and bad that happens to you. You blame others because of your own weakness.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba
- Divine Discourse, August 18, 1995
To reduce the wandering of your thoughts, repeat the Lord’s name; this will protect you from sorrow and trouble.
- BABA
Why should we train ourselves to maintain strict discipline in our spiritual practices? Today Bhagavan gives us valuable advice.
Training is necessary even for the proper pursuit of sensory pleasures, because it is precisely the uncontrolled pursuit of such pleasures that gives rise to anger, hatred, envy, malice, and vanity. To train the senses in a beneficial direction and keep them under control, certain helpful disciplines are necessary, such as repetition of the Name (japa), meditation (dhyana), fasting (upavasa), worship at sunrise and sunset, and so on. Yet no matter how much their value is praised or their practice recommended, people do not develop a taste for them. This happens because the craving for sensory pleasures has taken deep root in the human heart. When people are urged to engage in spiritual activities, they feel no inner inclination to do so. Nevertheless, one should not despair. Until this taste develops, one must follow strict discipline. Right taste is the result of training. No one possesses it from the very beginning, but constant practice awakens interest!
Sri Sathya Sai Baba
- Ch. 1, Bhagavata Vahini.
The mind should gradually be directed toward God until it merges with Him.
- BABA
How should one govern the mind and senses in order to attain peace? Today, Bhagavan explains this to us and lovingly guides us.
In the human heart, many ideas arise, wandering in eight directions. Some are harmonious, while others, on the contrary, conflict with one another. Yet all of them must be directed and organized in the service of a higher purpose. Your mind must be ready for such direction. This direction does not consist in cleverness regarding the use of external objects; it consists in controlling and mastering the mind—this is what is necessary for the Atma to blossom. To understand the capabilities of your mind, you need to follow your elders—those more experienced in this field—or work on sublimating the mind’s whims. Until you wisely determine the common direction of all your thoughts and actions, you will merely build castles in the air and wander through them. Even your senses will contradict one another and distract your attention to such an extent that you will be unable to easily arrive at an understanding of the ideal. Each sense will make you think that its path is the best. But you must always strive to redirect the senses and mind toward objects and desires that further the ideal, whatever the difficulties along this path and however serious the crisis may be. This is the sign of a true mind; this is the path to inner peace and tranquility (Shanti).
Sri Sathya Sai Baba
- Ch. 22, Prashanti Vahini.
Although the body, mind, and Atma have different names and differing qualities, harmonizing and coordinating them helps a person rise from the human to the divine level.
- BABA
Most modern people have not developed gratitude—one of the most important qualities. They forget the help that other people have given them. As long as you are alive, you should be grateful for the help you have received. You should forget two things: the help you have given others and the harm done to you.
If you remember the help you have given, you will always want something in return. If you remember the harm done to you by others, it will give rise to a desire for revenge. Always remember only the help you have received. A person endowed with such sacred qualities is ideal.
What must we realize before the time of this life runs out? Bhagavan lovingly and firmly reminds us.
Today, people are unable to understand what life is, what its purpose is, what their duty consists of, and what they should strive for. Time rushes by like a whirlwind. The span of life allotted to a person melts away with every moment, like a piece of ice. A person’s life comes to an end before they have even realized their duty.
What, then, is their duty?
Every person has aspirations and ideals that must be brought to life, and sacred paths that must be followed. But they make no effort to achieve these goals. What is the purpose and meaning of life, and what is its secret? A person hardly ever asks themselves these questions. They live and indulge in sensual pleasures. This is not what they should do; it is not the purpose of life. A person’s entire life should be a manifestation of divinity. This ideal should become the very essence of their life and activity.
— Divine Discourse, August 18, 1995
Why did God give us this body?
Only so that we may dedicate it to the service of the Lord.
— BABA
Discourse (Udumalpet, 27.02.1961)