Thought for the Day - As written at Prasanthi Nilayam


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December 2004

December 1, 2004

Love is the fruit of life. A fruit has three components: the skin, the juicy kernel and the seed. To experience the sweetness of the fruit, we have to first remove the skin. The skin represents egoism, the 'I' feeling which excludes, limits and individualises. The seed represents selfishness, the feeling of 'mine' which is possessive and greedy. This too has to be discarded. What remains is the sweet juice, the rasa, which the Upanishads describe as Divine, the Love Supreme.

December 2, 2004

From the moment of birth, suffering pursues man in one form or the other throughout life. If in all these ordeals one has to maintain equanimity and peace, one has to lead a righteous life with firm faith in God. There is no need to give up one's duties. But, all acts should be performed as an offering to God. Thereby, even ordinary acts become sanctified. Love of God should express itself in the form of consecration of every action.

December 3, 2004

The Lord's grace is conferred on each devotee according to the level of his spiritual consciousness. The ocean is vast and boundless. But, the amount of water you can carry from it is determined by the size of the vessel you carry to its shore. If the vessel is small, you cannot fill it beyond its capacity. Likewise, if your heart is constricted, Divine grace will be equally limited. Broaden your heart by getting rid of narrow differences and thus recognise the truth that the Divine dwells in everybody.

December 4, 2004

Contemplate on God as Love. This is the easiest path to God. Some feel despair that God's grace will be denied to them because they do not have the resources to go on pilgrimage or do not have knowledge of scriptures. This belief is incorrect, for God does not measure out Grace in proportion to external achievements. He is not moved by quantity. To appease hunger, one does not need the grain in all the granaries in the world; a handful is enough. Similarly, one little act of surrender is enough to win His grace forever.

December 5, 2004

All troubles arise because man is obsessed with the mind and forgets the Atma (Inner Self). When your life is illumined by the effulgence of the Atma, the mind will be put in shade. When you transcend the body and the mind, you will understand your true nature as being the Atmic principle itself. People do not realise that the phenomenal world is a manifestation of the divine and that the perceiver of this world is also divine. When this spiritual oneness is realised, the apparent division between man and the universe around him disappears.

December 6, 2004

Desire breeds wishes. Wishes cause birth and also death. When man gets rid of desires, he need not go through the cycle of birth and death. Successive births are caused by unfulfilled desires and are determined by them. But, the desire to know God, to love God and to be loved by God is not a desire that binds. When the awareness of God dawns in all its splendour, every worldly desire is reduced to ashes by the burning flames of that awareness. The individual self then merges in the Universal Self and delights in supreme peace.

December 7, 2004

The Guru (preceptor) warns and awakens. He reveals the truth and encourages you to progress towards it. But it is your yearning that is most essential. The Guru is like a gardener who tends the plant; but the sapling must sprout before he can take charge. He does not add anything new to the plant; he only helps it grow according to its own destiny, quicker and more fully perhaps, but never against its inner nature.

December 8, 2004

A car is not meant to be stowed away in a garage. It is meant for the roads, for taking you speedily and safely to your destination. So too, your body must serve its purpose of carrying you on your journey. Journey to where? Not, as has been happening, to the cemetery. You have nobler things to do than to merely die! You must know your own Reality before you die, and merge in that Supreme Bliss. Use the body to discover your own Divinity. Sanctify every moment of your sojourn on earth through pious deeds and sacred thoughts.

December 9, 2004

Be active, welcome activity - that is the message that God gives man at his birth. The process of breathing teaches you to chant 'Soham' all the time, 'so' when you inhale and 'ham' when you exhale. Thus, activity is the very essence of life. Select that activity which is conducive to your spiritual progress, judging the stage in which you are at present. There is no high or low task. The eyes must see, the ears must hear and the hands must hold. That is their dharma (code of duty). Each man must perform his own dharma.

December 10, 2004

What a joy it is to discover the ocean of bliss within, to dive deep into the depths of truth and become who you really are, the Infinite. What problems can ever shake you, who are immortal? Problems and difficulties are stepping stones and not stopping stones. Once you realize that you are one with the all-loving God, then how can worry ever assail you again. To worry is not your true nature. Your true nature is bliss and pure, selfless love.

December 11, 2004

The eye which is scarce two inches long can see millions of miles into space but is incapable of seeing itself. The condition of man too is similar. He can analyse others' motives, enumerate others' faults, map out others' skills and capabilities, but he is powerless to analyse himself, his feelings and emotions; he is unwilling to discover his own faults; he is unable to assess his innate skill and realise his inner reality. This power can be acquired only through the beneficial company of sadhakas (spiritual aspirants).

December 12, 2004

A man must possess only as much wealth as is essential. It is like the size of one's shoes. If the shoes are too loose, one cannot walk comfortably. If they are too tight, one cannot wear them. So, it is desirable to have only that amount of wealth as is adequate for one's basic needs. God will grant you what you need and deserve. Hence, be ever content and grateful.

December 13, 2004

Man is born with a great thirst and deep hunger for bliss. He has faint memories of his being heir to the Kingdom of Bliss. But, he does not know how to establish his claim on this heritage. Something in him revolts when he is condemned to die, to suffer and to hate. His inner voice whispers to him that he is the child of Immortality, of Bliss and of Love. But, man ignores these promptings and like one who exchanges diamonds for trash, runs in search of mean pleasures and sordid comforts.

December 14, 2004

You are the embodiment of Purity, Love and Bliss. The miserable, limited individuality that you take yourself to be has to be denied. You are free, yet you feel you are bound and mope around in the prison you imagine has trapped you. Perceive the Truth; that will set you free. You are not the body, the mind, the intellect, the brain, the heart or the diminutive ego. You are the Infinite Universal Absolute.

December 15, 2004

Once man is free from undue attachment to the body, he is liberated also from the dualities of joy and grief, good and bad, pleasure and pain etc. He is firmly established in equanimity, fortitude and undisturbed peace. There, man discovers that the world is one in God; that all is joy, love and bliss. He realises that he himself is all this apparent world, that all the multifarious manifestations are the projections of the Divine will, which is his own Reality. This expansion of one's individuality is the highest goal of man. It gives supreme Ananda (bliss), an experience for which sages and saints spend years in prayer and penance.

December 16, 2004

March on with your eyes fixed on the goal. Do not worry about past mistakes and failures. Do not follow the whims and fancies of the mind any longer. They will only drag you away from the spiritual path. Hearken to the call of the Divine that arises in the heart of every living being. Serve others with a worshipful attitude without expecting anything in return. Do not accept even gratitude, having dedicated all your acts to the indwelling God.

December 17, 2004

The Divine Principle is beyond expression and explanation. It has to be experienced. The richness, the fullness and the depth of that experience can never be communicated to another. One must feel that it is his highest destiny to have that experience. Man is not a lowly creature, born in slime or sin, destined to eke out a drab existence and then be extinguished forever. He is immortal. He is eternal.

December 18, 2004

When you pronounce another person as bad or impure, you are making a pronouncement on your own weaknesses. Your own defects are projected as the shortcomings of others. No one must judge another, for in doing so one condemns oneself. An individual's words may be harsh, the actions reprehensible and behaviour revolting, but he is Divine nevertheless. Look upon everyone not as bodies with names and forms, but as the Universal Self. Cultivate this attitude of seeing the Divine in everyone. In this way, you can rid your mind of its prejudices.

December 19, 2004

Whatever talents a person may possess, they must be dedicated to the service of humanity, indeed of all living beings. Therein lies life's fulfillment. All men are kin, moulded out of the same five elements, with the same divine essence residing in everyone. Service to your fellowmen will help your divinity to blossom, for service to man is service to God. God resides in the heart of every man and every living being, in every stone and stump. Let every act be a flower to be offered at the feet of God, free from the creeping worms of envy and egoism and full of the fragrance of love and sacrifice.

December 20, 2004

Man is carried away by identification with the body and therefore he perceives diversity in creation. In fact, unity is what underlies the apparent diversity. Whatever differences you see are only creations of your mind. The mind of man alone is responsible for both his bondage and liberation. Recognise the truth that the same divine essence is present in all and you will be free from all differences and conflicts.

December 21, 2004

Man's conduct is based on his thoughts. Thoughts are based on desires. Desires depend on the company that one keeps. The company of noble people gives rise to noble thoughts. The mind by nature is pure, but it gets polluted by association with evil qualities. Purification of the mind is therefore the main spiritual practice that one has to undertake. Repent wholeheartedly for the mistakes that have been committed. This penance will purify your mind and make it sacred.

December 22, 2004

From the narrow vision of 'individual need', man must voyage out into the broad vision of the 'universal'. When a drop of water falls into the ocean, it loses its narrow individuality and assumes the nature of the ocean itself. Instead, if it seeks to live separately as a drop, it will soon evaporate and be reduced to non-existence. We must become aware that we are part of the one Truth that encompasses everything in the universe.

December 23, 2004

You must realise by constant contemplation that the world is the body of God and you are a cell in that body. The welfare of the world is your welfare too. Be convinced of this and act in that spirit. This is true spirituality. The sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) cannot cut himself off from the world and escape into solitude, for, the world will follow him even into the deepest cave or the darkest forest. The sadhaka can claim progress only when he has established in himself, firm faith in the oneness of humanity.

December 24, 2004

Man has the unique capacity to realise and appreciate the beauty of creation and express feelings of love, compassion and sympathy towards his fellow-beings. He can delve not only into the secrets of nature, but also into his own mystery, and discover the divinity within himself. However, engrossed in the material world, he has lost all sense of spirituality and sublimity. Truth has become just a word in the dictionary; virtues like humility, patience and reverence too seem to have lost their relevance. The only thing that man can hold on to in this dreary darkness is the name of God. That is the raft which will take him across the stormy sea of the world.

December 25, 2004


Jesus was a Master born with a Mission: to restore love, charity and compassion in the heart of man. He had no selfishness, nor did he pay heed to the joys and sorrows of life. He had a heart that responded to the call of anguish. Christ taught people to love all beings and serve all with compassion. It is only by practising these ideals that one can truly celebrate His birthday. Worship means loving others with your whole heart. You must live in love and lead a life of selfless service based on love. This is the right way of celebrating the birth of Christ.

December 26, 2004

Man sees nature as cruel because his own mind is cruel. Clear the eye, purify the mind and you will see nature as a divine, loving entity. Love is the basic feeling that sustains man and strengthens his resolve to march ahead. Without love man is blind and the world will appear as a dark and fearsome jungle. Love is bound with life. In fact, love is life. The person with no love to share is as good as dead. Hence, love must expand in ever-widening circles. One who has no love of God can easily commit sins and lose all moral values. Love of God promotes fear of sin and makes one lead a moral life.

December 27, 2004

Life is a mosaic of pleasure and pain - grief is an interval between two moments of joy. There is no rose without a thorn; the diligent picker will avoid the pricks and gather the flower. There is no bee without a sting; skill lies in gathering the honey nevertheless. Troubles and travails may assail you, but you must not allow them to deflect you from the path of duty and dedication.

December 28, 2004

The human body is a gift of God. It has to be used as a raft to cross this agitated ocean of samsara (the world) that lies between bondage and liberation. Awaken to this duty while your physical and mental faculties are still keen and the power of discrimination is yet sharp. Do not postpone the launching of the raft, for it may become unserviceable soon. It may be burdened with illness and all your attention will then have to be spent on its upkeep. Pursue nobler ends, have grander ideals. Think of the incomparable joy that will surge within you, when you approach the shore of liberation!

December 29, 2004

The experience of this one life must be enough to show you that there is no joy unmixed with grief, that both grief and joy are short lived and they both depend on the mind and its control. This world is keeping you in bondage; it is a prison from which you must get released; you should plan never to return to it again. The means to this permanent release are sadhana (spiritual effort), sathkarma (good deeds), bhakthi (devotion) and upasana (worship). These practices help you by reducing your wants, curtailing your desires and teaching you detachment from sensory pleasures. These are the shackles which bind you to the body and the senses, to the limiting emotions of greed and hate, to the blinding passions of anger and lust. Escape from them and you will enjoy lasting peace.

December 30, 2004

The best way to get rid of delusion is to strike at its very roots - the mistake that you are the body, with a name and form, attached to the senses, the intelligence and the mind. Don't you say, my nose my mind, my hand, my reason, just as you say, my book, my umbrella? Who is this 'I' that calls all these 'mine'? That is the real 'you'. It was there when you were born, and exists even when you sleep forgetful of all else including the body. That 'I' cannot be harmed; it does not change, it knows no death or birth. Learn the discipline that makes you aware of this Truth and you will be ever free and without fear.

December 31, 2004

Life is a pilgrimage over the rough and weary road of the world. But, with the Name of God on his lips, the pilgrim will suffer no thirst; with the Form of God in his heart, he will feel no exhaustion. Remember that with every step, you are nearing God. It is one continuous journey, through day and night; through valley and desert; through tears and smiles and through birth and death. When the road ends, and the Goal is gained, the pilgrim finds that he has travelled only from himself to himself. He realises that the God he sought was all the while in him, around him, and beside him!

 

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