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Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Birthday
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Date: Friday, December 12, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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Sorrow affects you because you feel
you deserved joy and did not acquire
it; but there is one impartial
distributor of joy and sorrow, who
gives you what you need, rather than
what you desire. You may need the
tonic of tragedy to set you on the
road to recovery. The Compassionate
One, the eternal all-knowing God, He
knows best. Welcome the tragedy and
fight your way through, with the
armour of the remembrance of the
Divine. As all rivers hurry towards
the sea, let all your imaginings
wend their way to God. The play is
His; the role is His gift; the lines
are written by Him; He decides the
dress and decoration, the gesture
and the tone, the entrance and the
exit. You have to act well your part
and when the curtain falls receive
His approbation. By your efficiency
and enthusiasm earn the right to
play higher and higher roles - that
is the meaning and purpose of life.
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Date: Thursday, December 11, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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“Maam anusmara - With Me in memory
ever,” said Lord Krishna! In your
daily life, do not distinguish one
task as bhajan, another as bhojan
(eating), and the third as pujan
(worship of God) - all acts are
offering to the Divine. The food you
partake is given by Him and digested
by Him, so that it yields strength
to do His work. Each moment is
worthwhile, for He gives it, He uses
it, He fills it, He fashions it, and
He fulfils it. When He is fully
suffused in your every breath, you
can achieve the sovereign task of
merging in Him. You have that might
within you; The Divine cannot be
gained by the weak. The remembrance
can become permanently established
only when you are free from the
shackles of spite and envy. Be An-asuya
- without the trace of pride or
envy, malice or hate, egoism or
conceit. The Lord permanently
resides in the heart kept
assiduously clean.
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Wednesday, December 10, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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God assumes many forms and enacts
many activities. The name Bhagavatha
is given to the descriptions of the
experiences of those who have
realised Him in those forms and of
those who have been blessed by His
grace and chosen as His instruments.
The great epic called Bhagavatha is
a panacea that cures physical,
mental and spiritual illnesses. By
Bhagavatha we also mean those with
attachment to God, those who seek
the companionship of God. Being in
the midst of such Bhagavathas
fosters one’s own devotion. Unless
you have a taste for God-ward
thoughts, you will not derive joy
therefrom. To create that taste, the
Bhagavatha tells stories to the
earnest inquirer that relate to
incarnations. Then one develops the
yearning to experience the thrill of
God, through all the levels of
consciousness. One who has this
intense yearning can alone be a true
Bhagavatha.
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Date: Tuesday, December 09, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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Keep the Name of the Lord always
radiant on your tongue and mind.
That will keep the antics of the
mind under control. When the lamp is
burning, darkness will not spread
its fumes around you. When the word
for Brahman (Supreme Universal
Reality), Om, is spelt with the last
breath by the one dying, they attain
the Divine. To make that final
utterance of Om, just as the flower
blossoms on the creeper of life, you
need to dwell upon Om all through
the years of your current life. The
Geeta advocates the process of
continuous meditation in a neat
little formula: mam anusmara yuddhya
cha! - "Keep Me in your memory and
fight!" The cue here for you is to
fight the battle of life, have God
in your consciousness as your
Charioteer at all times. This is not
merely a direction for Arjuna; it is
a prescription for all humanity.
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Date: Monday, December 08, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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The Kaivalya Upanishad declares:
“Not by means of works, not by means
of human power, not by means of
wealth, but by renunciation alone
can immortality be attained.” The
‘works’ referred to are rituals like
sacrifices, vows, charities,
donations, pilgrimages, etc. Through
such activities, one cannot achieve
liberation; that is to say, one
cannot get rid of the veil of
ignorance. ‘Human power’ means
acquisition of positions of
authority, of skill and intelligence
which can manipulate people and
things, of fame and supremacy, of
personal charm, of health and
happiness, or of a large family with
many children - these cannot confer
liberation. The works mentioned
above and the acquisition referred
to can succeed only when one has
‘wealth’. But the Upanishad
announces that spiritual wisdom is
not related to riches. So liberation
cannot be earned by means of wealth.
Renunciation alone can confer
immortality.
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Date: Sunday, December 07, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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Yaga (ritualistic sacrificial
prayers) is prescribed by the Karma
Kanda (the parts that expound on
actions or Karma as a spiritual
path) of the Vedas. It is for
sanctifying time and fulfilling the
goal of human birth. The practice of
renunciation and dedication through
the rite of the yaga promotes
worldly happiness as well as
spiritual progress. It fosters
charity and social cohesion. The
ritual sacrifices pleases the
deities presiding over the forces of
Nature and so brings down rain,
which helps growing crops, and
increases food for man and beast.
Activity that is divorced from
spiritual goals, and devoid of
reverence and humility, leads to
conceit and authoritarianism. It
makes one arrogant and cruel; but
the sages of India laid down that
all activity has to be done as a
yaga, as offerings for the glory of
God, in an atmosphere of
thankfulness and awe, of humility
and holiness. The goal of all
activity was idealised as the
happiness and peace of all living
beings.
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Date: Saturday, December 06, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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To discriminate between good and
bad, one must resort to scriptures.
The Vedas emerged from the Divine
Himself and were ‘heard’ by sages
attuned to the voice of the Divine,
who in turn, taught them to their
disciples. This process of imparting
the Vedas and the wisdom enshrined
in them has continued through many
generations of Gurus and disciples
until now. The Upanishads, the
Brahma Sutra and the Bhagavad Gita
contain the very essence of the
Vedas. Hence these are designated as
‘three fundamental texts (Prasthana
traya)’ of the science of
spirituality. Acquisition of higher
knowledge alone can fulfil the main
purpose of human life; it makes one
aware that one is not the inert
non-sentient body but an embodiment
of being-awareness-bliss. When this
truth dawns and is experienced, you
are freed from the fog of ignorance
and are liberated, in this very
life.
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Date: Friday, December 05, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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The conflict between persons who
accept God and deny Him, those who
declare that God is to be found in
this or that place and those who
affirm that He can be found nowhere,
is never ending; it has been
continuing throughout the ages.
Remember that it is unnecessary to
awaken a person already awake and it
is easy to awaken a person who is
asleep. You cannot awaken, however
much you try, a person not wanting
to awaken! Those who do not know,
can be taught by means of simple
illustrations what they do not know.
But those afflicted with
half-knowledge and proud of that
acquisition are beyond any further
education. Your two eyes give a
picture of a vast expanse of space,
but they cannot see your whole body!
For that, you need two mirrors – one
in front of you and one behind. So
too, to know your reality, you need
the mirrors of Self-confidence
(Atma-vishwas) and Divine Grace.
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Date: Thursday, December 04, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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Mere reading of spiritual texts is
not enough. You may master all the
commentaries and you may be able to
argue and discuss with great
scholars about these texts; but
without attempting to practise what
they teach, it is a waste of time. I
never approve of book-learning;
practice is what I evaluate. When
you come out of the examination hall
you know whether you will pass or
not, is it not? For you can yourself
judge whether you have answered well
or not. So too in sadhana (spiritual
effort) or in conduct or in
practice, each of you can judge and
ascertain the success or failure
that is in store. The moon is
reflected in a pot, provided it has
water; so too the Lord can be
clearly seen in your heart, provided
you have the water of Love (Prema).
When you don’t see the Lord
reflected in your heart, do not say
that there is no Lord; it only means
that there is no Love within you.
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Wednesday, December 03, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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Enter upon that task of Sadhana from
now on; that is the lesson you must
learn here. Otherwise yatra
(pilgrimage) leads only to the
accumulation of patra (objects and
souvenirs). Devotion is something
sweet, soothing, refreshing and
restoring. It must confer patience
and fortitude. The devotee will not
be perturbed if another is blessed
with more grace. The devotee is
humble and bides one’s time, knowing
that there is a higher power that
knows more and that it is just and
impartial. In the light of that
knowledge, the devotees will
communicate their troubles and
problems only to their Lord; they
will not humiliate themselves by
talking about them to all and
sundry, for what can a man, who is
as helpless as another, do to
relieve them? It is only those who
have that implicit faith in God, who
will deign to communicate only with
the Lord and none else, who deserve
Amrita (nectar of immortality).
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Date: Tuesday, December 02, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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People suffer because they have all
kinds of unreasonable desires and
they pine to fulfil them and they
fail. They attach too much value to
the objective world. It is only when
attachment increases that you suffer
pain and grief. If you look upon
Nature and all created objects with
the insight derived from the Inner
Vision, then attachment will slide
away, though effort will remain; you
will also see everything much
clearer and with a glow suffused
with Divinity and splendour. Close
your external eyes and open your
inner eyes - What a grand picture of
essential unity you get? Attachment
to Nature has limits, but the
attachment you develop to the Lord
when your inner eye opens, has no
limit. Enjoy that reality, not this
false picture. (Divine Discourse, 2
Feb 1958)
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Date: Monday, December 01, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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To pray to God with excessive
adulation and request a favour stems
from a tone of despondency.
Describing Him as One who is beyond
praise by Brahma and other gods, and
narrating glories beyond description
of how He helped devotees and then
asking, "Oh Lord! You have talked to
them and given them so much! Why
don't You come to my help?" appears
to stem from jealousy. It is only
when God is regarded as a friend and
a companion that He is pleased the
most. When you address Him as, "O my
dearest friend! My beloved One! The
darling of my heart," you are giving
Him the greatest joy. We use words
of praise towards an unfamiliar
person to show respect and regard as
he/she is a stranger. But we welcome
an old friend with easy familiarity
and intimacy. Hence approach God as
your loving friend, He will come to
your aid and fulfill your needs.
(Divine Discourse, Oct 9, 1989)
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Date: Sunday, November 30, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
Do not be led away by all this
present-day talk of equality, either
of men and women, or of all men.
Each has a certain fund of
intelligence, and a peculiar bundle
of instincts, impulses and vasanas
(past impressions). To the extent
that you develop them or divert them
or diminish their strength, to that
extent there is bound to be
difference in your equipment and
achievement. Use all chances you get
to develop your skills, your health
and your character. That is your
present duty. Do not by any action
of yours cause pain to another; nor
suffer pain yourself, by foolishness
or sheer bravado. Do not dishonour
your elders; cultivate the spirit of
service and learn how to serve the
sick and the needy, and seize every
chance to help others. Or at least,
desist from causing sorrow to
others. (Divine Discourse, March 3,
1958)
-Sri Sathya Sai Baba
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Date: Saturday, November 29, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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By praying to God and asking for
trivial and petty things, people
demean the Lord’s Divine estate. No
one appreciates the valuable, sacred
and divine favour God may choose to
confer on a deserving devotee. Hence
never seek from God, nor desire, nor
pray for some petty trifles. More
precious and desirable than
everything else is God's love. If
you wish to ask for anything from
God pray to Him thus, "O Lord! Let
me have You alone." To crave for
anything other than Divine Love is
like asking for coffee powder from
the Kalpataru (Wish-fulfilling
Tree)! For, once you have secured
the Lord, you will naturally get
everything you want! While praying
to God for His grace, do not indulge
in extravagant praise and flattery
to win His approbation and seek His
favours; that prayer then acquires a
commercial tinge! Pray sincerely and
earnestly from within. (Divine
Discourse, Oct 9, 1989)
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Date: Friday, November 28, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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Have faith that Truth will save you
in the long run; stick to it,
regardless of what might befall. For
if you are true, the sense of guilt
will not gnaw your insides and cause
pain. It is cowardice that makes you
hide the truth; it is hatred that
sharpens the edge of falsehood. Be
bold and there is no need for a lie.
Be full of love and there is no need
for subterfuge. The easiest habit is
speaking the truth, honesty; for if
you start telling lies, you will
have to keep count of them and
remember how many you have told to
whom, and be always alert not to
contradict one lie with another!
Love a person and you need no longer
deceive the person with a lie; you
will feel that the loved one
deserves the truth and nothing less
than the truth. Love saves a good
deal of bother. (Divine Discourse,
March 3, 1958)
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Date: Thursday, November 27, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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The one who is filled with love has
great peace of mind, is pure at
heart and is unruffled by any
adverse circumstances, failures or
losses. This fortitude is derived
from love of the Lord, and it endows
one with self-confidence.
Self-confidence generates an immense
internal power. Everyone has to
develop this power to experience the
bliss of the Self (Atma-Ananda).
Love should be free from feelings of
expectation of any return or reward.
Love which arises out of a desire
for something in return is not true
love. Utterly selfless and
motiveless love should be developed.
This is the bounden duty of all. You
should not pray to God seeking this
favour or that, for your vision is
limited. None of you can fathom what
immensely precious, Divine and
magnificent treasures lie when you
secure the treasure-house of Divine
Grace. (Divine Discourse, Oct 9,
1989)
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Wednesday, November 26, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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All of you have a whole set of
animals within: the dog, the fox,
the ass, and the wolf. You must
choose to suppress the tendencies of
all these beasts and encourage the
human qualities of love and
friendship to shine. Above all,
begin the cultivation of virtues;
that is more important and
beneficial than mere book-learning.
This will give real Ananda (bliss);
that is the essence of all
knowledge, the culmination of all
learning. Treat everyone as your own
and even if you cannot do them any
good, desist from causing them any
injury. Light the lamp of love
inside the niche of your heart and
the nocturnal birds of greed and
envy will fly away, unable to bear
the light. An unbending person is
infected with egoism of the worst
type; Love (Prema) makes you humble,
it makes you bend and bow when you
see greatness and glory. Use that
capacity and derive the best
advantage out of it. (Divine
Discourse, March 3, 1958)
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Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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You must become heroes in action. It
does not behoove of you to spend
your time in idle talk, without
involving yourself in some solid
work for the benefit of the nation.
Bend your body and work hard to
attain glory. A seed that is sown in
the soil, loses its shape to
ultimately become a gigantic tree.
That tree yields sweet fruits.
Similarly it is only when you
destroy your ego and lose your
identity, real fruit of your actions
come out. Therefore, remove your
attachment to your body (dehabhimana)
and develop attachment to the
country (deshabhimana). Love is a
quality permeating every living
being. Truth is verily the
embodiment of Divinity. It is in
you, with you, around you,
everywhere, protecting you always,
at all times. You need not search
for God in some distant place. Truth
is the very embodiment of God. Do
not ever move away from Truth.
(Divine Discourse, 22 Nov 2002)
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Date: Monday, November 24, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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Life will be unfulfilled by merely
spending time. When you enquire
earnestly whether duty comes first
or right comes first, several people
insist upon ‘rights’. Ask yourself -
Where did ‘rights or entitlements’
come from? When you perform your
duty, its fruit, in the shape of
rights, accrues to you! How can a
child exist without the mother? So
also, when you perform your duties
sincerely, the result of that action
comes as rights. When you enquire
into the fact whether rain comes
first or the flow of water, it
becomes clear that flow of rainwater
follows rain. Without rain, there
cannot be a flow. The flow can be
compared to one’s ‘rights’ and rain
to ‘duty’. Therefore accord your
highest priority to your duties!
(Divine Discourse, 22 Nov 2002)
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Date: Sunday, November 23, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
Many must be thinking about the gift
to offer Swami on His Birthday. The
present given to God must be pure,
steady and selfless Love. You can
rejoice that you have given the Lord
a real gift only when you love your
fellowmen, share their sufferings,
and engage in serving them. Adopt
villages and make them ideal
villages. Rich and powerful have
plentiful servants. The distressed,
the poverty-stricken, and the
diseased have no one to serve them.
Go to them and be their friends and
relatives, their closest
well-wishers. Let them welcome you
as such. Do not pour spirituality
into the ears of those who are
tortured by hunger and afflicted by
pain. First satiate their hunger.
Serve them as God and give food,
clothes, and medicines and then
teach them spirituality. I bless you
with long life, good health, bliss,
peace and prosperity. May you devote
your physical, mental, intellectual
and spiritual strength and skills
for the service of the Universe.
(Divine Discourse, 23 Nov 1982)
Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Birthday
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Date: Saturday, November 22, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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A real student is one who
contemplates and understands the
value of the education being
received. Higher knowledge (Vijnana)
and Supreme wisdom (Prajnana) are
not merely products of education
that can be acquired by learning or
listening. Everyone can develop
these sacred powers through culture
and refinement gained through
education and consistent practice.
What is culture? Culture is the
conscious effort put in by every
being to achieve a transformation in
their daily lives from untruth to
truth, from non-conformance to
scriptures to conformance to
scriptural authority, and from
evanescence to eternity. It is a
spiritual journey towards Divinity.
Human beings are embodiments of
truth. Everyone must persevere to
protect the practice of Truth
(Sathya) and Righteousness (Dharma),
which in turn will protect the
Universe. If you succeed in doing
so, the whole world will enjoy peace
and prosperity. (Divine Discourse,
21 Nov 2002)
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Date: Friday, November 21, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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Modern education is mere bookish
knowledge, confined to what is
contained in the texts. Today many
are pursuing such secular education
only (i.e., value neutral). Secular
education alone is not enough. It
must be supplemented with spiritual
education. Spiritual education has
its effect on one’s heart, and is
called Educare. Educare means
bringing out the latent Divinity,
that is hidden in the heart of human
beings and establishing it as an
ideal to the whole world. Through
Educare, you must develop the
principle of love and students must
follow the path of truth. True
education is that which is suffused
with truth and love. Secular
education is for making a living,
whereas spiritual education is for
reaching the goal of life. It is the
duty of students as well as
educators to harmonize the secular
education with spiritual education.
This is the prime necessity today.
(Divine Discourse, 20 Nov 2002)
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Date: Thursday, November 20, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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Do not find faults with others. If
you point an accusing finger at
someone, remember three fingers are
pointing to you. Wear the ornament
of Truth to adorn your neck (Sathyam
Kantasya Bhushanam). Charity is the
true ornament that make your hands
beautiful and elegant (Hasthasya
Bhushanam Dhanam). Thus you must
sanctify each limb of your body by
engaging in sacred activities. Your
eyes should look at only sacred
things. Do you know what an enormous
power is latent in your eyes? There
are crores of light rays in them. In
olden days, people used to invoke
the grace of Sun God to have a
better vision. When you perform
Surya-namaskar (worship of Sun God)
and invoke His grace, the light rays
in your eyes will become more
effulgent and inspire you. People
aspire to attain liberation. What is
liberation? Help ever, hurt never -
that is true liberation. To get rid
of attachment (moha) is true
liberation (moksha). (Divine
Discourse, Nov 19, 2002)
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Wednesday, November 19, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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Women should look after their homes
diligently and conduct themselves in
a pleasing manner. Treat your guests
in a cordial manner and to the
extent possible. Empathise with
those who are in difficulties,
comfort and console them with
soothing words. Those who talk harsh
words are verily demons. If you hurt
others’ feelings, you will be hurt
twice as much and you cannot escape
from the consequences of your
actions. Embodiments of Love! These
teachings are simple to practice in
your daily life. But do not take
them lightly - they can confer on
you liberation! It is your good
fortune (adrishtam) to know them!
What is good fortune? A-drishtam is
that which cannot be seen. You may
not be able to see the results of
your noble conduct and meritorious
deeds, but they will confer on you
all happiness and comforts in due
course of time. (Divine Discourse,
Nov 19 2002)
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Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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People today speak about God having
forgotten them. This is not true.
Most often, it is the devotee who
gives up God. It is the devotee who
forgets Him. It is their own
feelings that are reflected in their
utterances. People forget God and
indulge in the world and one day
they suddenly declare that God has
forgotten and forsaken them.
Separation from God is the primary
cause for people wallowing in
sensuous pleasures. Mind is the
cause of one’s pleasure and pain. It
must be directed towards God to
secure freedom from pleasure and
pain. You stray away from God and
think God is moving away from you.
God can and will never forget His
devotee. God is never away from you.
He is always with you, caring for
you and waiting for you to turn to
Him. (My Dear Students, Vol 5, Ch
14, 14 Jan 1996)
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Date: Monday, November 17, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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There are many Nobel laureates. How
many remember them? But the great
benefactors of mankind, the men of
noble qualities, are cherished by
all mankind. For instance, Kolkata
produced many great intellectuals,
who after a time are not remembered
at all. But Ramakrishna Paramahamsa,
a noble soul from that city, even
though he was illiterate, is
enshrined in the hearts of millions
all over the world. Is education
responsible for it? Likewise if many
noble persons are instilled in the
hearts of people, what is the
reason? They have earned their good
name by their faith in God, their
character, magnanimity and spirit of
sacrifice. This means that together
with concern for worldly things,
there should be devotion to God as
well. Together with education
Samskara is essential. What is the
meaning of culture (Samskara)?
Refinement of action is true culture
- Samyak Kriti Iti Samskara. (My
Dear Students, Vol 5, Ch 14, 14 Jan
1996)
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Date: Sunday, November 16, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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The supreme virtue in every human
being is to forget their individual
differences and move with everyone
in a spirit of harmony and equality.
What lends beauty to sports and
games is this spirit of unity.
Unfortunately many people today
derive only physical fitness and
strength from sports and games, not
the spirit of love and unity!
Fulfillment in life can never be
attained from physical health and
strength alone. Even if your stomach
is full, you can be happy only when
both your body and mind are healthy.
Young people must understand this
truth and not be focused only on
physique and beauty. The Divine has
endowed everyone with physical,
mental and spiritual potencies of
many kinds. Your mind is the source
of infinite powers. A subdued mind
can help you realize the Divine.
Recognize the magnitude of your
internal powers and leverage them in
your daily lives. (My Dear Students,
Vol 5, Ch 14, 14 Jan 1996)
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Date: Saturday, November 15, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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A flower has many petals. These
petals appear distinct from each
other. But all petals have emerged
from the same single stem. The stem
is the seat of the Atma, from which
the petals have emanated. But we
view the flower as a single object.
The flower is one, but the petals
are many. Same analogy is applicable
to the endless number of waves
arising on the ocean. The waves are
many and distinct. But they are of
the same stuff as the ocean. From
the waves arises the foam, which has
the same properties as the waves and
the ocean though different in form
and name. All the three are based on
the ocean. This is the logical basis
for Advaita (philosophy of
non-dualism). The Atma is the basis
for everything. Ignoring this truth
people pursue the myriad ephemeral
objects of the phenomenal world, but
ultimately all come to a realisation
of the Atmic Principle. (Divine
Discourse, 10 Sep 1996)
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Date: Friday, November 14, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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You have immense potency within you.
Like the light that illumines, your
vision must be pure, sacred and
pleasing. Do not taint or pollute
the blessing of sight by looking at
undesirable objects, or by looking
with bad thoughts. A magnetic energy
circulates in you. Although this
energy is present throughout the
body, its presence is conspicuous in
the hand. Hence the hands should be
employed for good purposes. They
should never be used for harming
others. The ears listen to gossip,
slander and evil talk. The result is
that the power of hearing gets
polluted. Also the power of speech.
This power finds expression in sound
waves and it has to be used with
great care. The words one utters
should be examined to see that they
do not excite, irritate or anger
others. Bad words come back to the
speaker with double strength. Hence
one's speech should be soft and
sweet. (My Dear Students, Vol 5, Ch
14, 14 Jan 1996)
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Date: Thursday, November 13, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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Desire and disappointments are the
order of the day. Human life for
most people seems to be full of
fear. Various types of fears haunt
wherever one is, whatever one does.
How can one escape fear? Even the
little objects of happiness which
one seems to derive from life, is
coupled with fear of losing them
soon! Sin and merit, joy and sorrow,
profit and loss, light and darkness
are pairs of opposites that every
being undergoes during their lives.
Truly speaking, the absence of one
(sorrow), indicates the presence of
other (joy)! Saint Adi Shankara
further clarified, “Where there is
no attachment, there will be no
fear!” How can one attain that
state? By attaining proximity with
the Divine! He further exhorted,
“Banish fear by cultivating
detachment (Vairagya) and journeying
towards the Self. It is through
Self-Realization that you can
understand the true nature of fear
and overcome it. (My Dear Students,
Vol 3, Ch 17)
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Date: Wednesday, Nov.12, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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The hard working farmer has no fear
of starvation. The one who chants
the Lord’s Name has no fear of
worldly worries. The person of a few
words will be free from enmity.
Through excessive talk, people fall
prey to quarrels. Everyone must
cultivate moderation in speech.
Restraint in speech is conducive to
friendly feelings. The one who is
careful in behavior, doing all
actions after due deliberation, will
have no fear of danger. True
education consists in knowing how to
lead a peaceful life. To embark on
or have a successful career, you
must aspire for world peace. For you
are part of the world and your
well-being is intimately tied to
that of the world. Give up all
narrow feelings and acquire unity
and fellowship. (My Dear Students,
Vol 5, Ch 14, 14 Jan 1996)
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Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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You may encounter any number of
losses and difficulties in life. You
may undergo a lot of suffering. But,
you should never give up truth,
faith and love. Loss, suffering and
difficulties are like the waves in
the ocean of life. They just come
and go. But the water of the ocean
is permanent. Hence develop the
faith of ‘water’, i.e., Divinity.
The power of the divine name is
unparalleled. Do not take it
lightly. God’s name is the real
diamond. Keep it safe and secure. Do
not ever be bothered by pain and
suffering, losses and difficulties.
Your thoughts are like the passing
clouds. Once you seek refuge in the
lotus feet of the Lord, never give
it up. Wherever you go, the divine
feet will protect you. If you
install the divine name firmly in
your heart, your life will become
sanctified. That is devotion (bhakti).
That is your power (sakthi). That is
liberation (mukti).
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Date: Monday, November 10, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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While performing your duties in your
house or outside, constantly remind
yourself, “Whatever I do, think or
speak, everything belongs to God.”
The proper attitude should be,
‘Sarva karma Bhagavath preethyartham’.
Take for example, the process of
cooking. You add different
ingredients to the dish being cooked
in definite proportions and try to
make them tasty. But the real taste
comes only when the job of cooking
is done as an offering to God. The
food becomes divine when it is
offered to God. On the other hand,
if the various items are cooked with
the attitude, ‘I am doing this job
as a routine; I am cooking these
items for my family members to
partake’, it does not reach God.
Hence undertake every act in your
life as an offering to God, chanting
His Name. Whatever you think, speak
or do, consider it as God’s command,
God’s work.
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Date: Sunday, November 09, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
Human life is highly sacred, noble
and divine. It should not be wasted
in unworthy pursuits. Take to the
sacred path and sanctify your time
by chanting the divine name. There
is no need to allocate a specific
time or place for Namasmarana. You
can do it wherever you are and
whatever you are doing. One needs to
pay tax for water, electricity,
etc., but there is no tax for
Namasmarana. Nobody can stop you
from doing it. It is very simple,
yet most effective. Many people do
not realise its immense value as it
is so easy to practise. They think
incorrectly that God can be attained
only through severe austerities.
Chant the divine name without
troubling yourself or causing
trouble to others. Cultivate love
for God. Do not criticise or
ridicule anybody. Give happiness to
all by sharing your love selflessly.
This is true spiritual practice.
Follow this simple path, experience
ananda and sanctify your lives.
-Sri Sathya Sai Baba
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Date: Saturday, November 08, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
Akhanda Bhajan involves constant
contemplation on God in the morning,
evening or even during the night
time. No doubt, many people today
are repeating the holy name; but not
with love and steady faith. Some are
concerned about how others are
singing, whether their tune is in
order, etc. This equates to doing
namasankirtan with a wavering mind;
no transformation will occur with
such namasankirtan, despite doing it
for hours together. It must be done
with absolute concentration and
steady faith to achieve
transformation. To attain purity
that pulverizes all negativity, it
is not enough if chanting of the
divine name is confined to a limited
period. Hence global Akhanda Bhajan
is held for 24 hours, every year.
Consider yourself very fortunate to
participate in an Akhanda Bhajan. If
only you make good use of it, your
life will be sanctified. Practice
Namasmarana and make it a continuous
spiritual exercise throughout your
life.
-Sri Sathya Sai Baba
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Date: Friday, November 07, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
Lord Krishna in the Gita says, “You
are all part of My Divinity. Hence
you should follow Me. My love is
divine and sacred. So is yours!” (Mamaivamso
jeevaloke jeevabhutah sanatanah). If
you truly follow this principle, you
will automatically achieve purity.
Where there is purity, there is
Divinity. Since time immemorial,
each and every one of you are part
of Me; you are My very own. Never
forget this truth. If you develop
faith in this truth, it will amount
to reading all the scriptures. Every
human being follows Dharma
(Righteousness). Where did this
Dharma come from? It has come from
feeling (bhava), which in turn
emanated from faith (vishwas). Where
faith is, there Dharma is! That
faith is Truth. Dharma is verily the
embodiment of Divinity. Truth is
God; Faith is God; Love is God; Live
in Love. Only when you cultivate
Truth, Faith and Love, you can
achieve anything.
-Sri Sathya Sai Baba
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Date: Thursday, November 06, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
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Always attend to your duties with a
pleasant and smiling face. There is
no use putting a ‘castor oil face’.
Happiness is union with God. That is
real Divinity. When you are
confronted with difficult situations
do not get upset and constantly
worry thinking, “Oh My! How do I
cross this situation?”. Such worry
will only worsen the situation.
Repose your faith in God. Think that
difficulties are opportunities for
your advancement. If you develop
this attitude, your life will be
sanctified. Whoever does Namasmarana,
whatever name they take and wherever
they are, their life will be
sanctified. They will be free from
sin. Do not be too much concerned or
bogged down with raga and tala (tune
and rhythm). There is only one Raga,
that is Hridayaraga (the tune of
your own heart). That is ‘So… ham’
(“I am I”). Tune your life Unto Him.
Then, whatever activity you
undertake, it becomes a success.
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Date: Wednesday, Nov. 05, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
Today the world is facing a lot of
problems because people are not
doing enough Namasamarana. Let each
and every street reverberate with
the singing of the divine glory. May
each and every cell of your body be
filled with the Divine Name. Nothing
else can give you the bliss, courage
and strength that you derive from
Namasamarana. Even if others make
fun of you, ignore it, let it go!
Everyone young or old, rich or poor,
must do Namasamarana. Do it with all
your mind and total dedication. Sing
to the Lord without any inhibitions;
only then can you experience divine
bliss. You do not need any musical
instruments - it is enough if you
call Him from the core of your
heart. Take care that you do not
have evil thoughts as they will
produce discordant notes. Then you
will receive divine grace and
energy.
-Sri Sathya Sai Baba
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Date: Tuesday, November 04, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
A man was performing a marriage in a
village. Due to the insufficiency of
cooking vessels, the person went to
a rich man to borrow them for the
occasion. The rich man generously
loaned them and the vessels were
used to cook a feast to serve the
guests attending the wedding. After
the function, can the dirty vessels
be returned to the owner? No! The
vessels must be cleaned inside and
outside thoroughly and then be
returned. This is true also for the
vessel present within you, loaned by
God - your heart! All of you are
pilgrims in the journey of life.
Just as you cannot misuse the
borrowed vessel or return it
unclean, your heart too must be
maintained and returned pure and
clean. Do not use the God-gifted
heart and limbs to undertake unholy
actions and get involved in
unnecessary relationships, growing
more in bondage. Lead a pure life.
-Sri Sathya Sai Baba
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Date: Monday, November 03, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
Adi Shankara remarked to his
disciples that young people were
more keen on sensuous pleasures than
enquire about the Soul (Atma). It is
piteous that people are more
attached to the body, which is a
container of many filthy objects.
They are carried away by the
external physical attractions of the
body, without understanding its
impermanence. How long can youth
last? His message is a strong
warning to the young to be very
careful in the life they lead and
encourages them to shed
body-consciousness. You must
practice recognising the Divine
Principle present in all beings,
even though they may be called by
different names and appear
different. Youth must hold fast to
God as their only true Friend and
Supporter. Once you have firm faith,
the Divine will Himself manifest and
reveal Himself to you.
-Sri Sathya Sai Baba
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Date: Sunday, November 02, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
Today many parents, even those
highly educated, are acting without
any sense of discrimination –
discouraging children from
worshipping God and participating in
bhajans. They tell them that they
would have ample time to think of
God, post retirement. This is a
grave mistake. You can remember God
in old age, only when you practice
thinking of Him from early on.
Childhood is a very sacred and
golden phase in human life - do not
misuse it! Gayatri Mantra is the
embodiment of Mother Principle.
Practice chanting it every day – in
the morning, afternoon and evening.
When your back is towards the Sun,
your shadow will be in front of you.
It will fall behind you only when
you stand facing the Sun. Similarly
illusion (maya), which is like your
shadow, will overpower you when you
turn your mind away from God. You
can easily overcome illusion, when
you turn your mind towards God.
-Sri Sathya Sai Baba
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Date: Saturday, November 01, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM TODAY |
The body is made up of five elements
and is not real at any time. Body is
like a water bubble. The bubble is
born in water, sustained in water
and ultimately merges in the water.
Similarly the Self is born from
Divine Consciousness (Sachidananda)
and merges ultimately in the Divine.
Birth and death are scenes in this
drama of life; do not consider them
to be true. In your sleep you may
have seen many mansions, but when
you are awake, you don’t see any of
them! The buildings you see during
your day are not visible to you when
you are asleep. Hence both are
untrue – day-dreams and night-dreams
at best! The only fact in it is that
‘you’ are present in both times.
Similarly though you have a human
form, in reality you are Divine.
Therefore sanctify this birth by
leading a pure and sacred life.
Don’t accumulate the dirt of worldly
life.
-Sri Sathya Sai Baba
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