Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 1st, 2006
Many people accomplish stupendous tasks by dint of their strong determination. But so far, no one has been able to unravel the mystery of mind and matter. Once you know the nature of the mind and matter, everything else will be known. The mind has originated from the Atma. Matter is the effect of the mind. The body and the mind are only instruments. They should be under one's control. Do not identify yourself with these instruments. You are the master. Master the mind and be a mastermind. It is the unseen Atma which makes the body function. People forget the Master (the Atma) and get deluded by their attachment to the body. You are the Self, which is eternal. Hence, give up body attachment and live in Atmic consciousness.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 2nd, 2006
What is the goal of human life? One has to recognise the fundamental truth, i.e., the principle of Atma. It is within you. It is possible to know this only through the intellect because it alone has the capacity to discriminate. If you want to partake of an orange, you have to peel out the bitter rind. Likewise, the intellect should give up evil and accept the good. Man has to undertake sacred activities to uphold his purity and character. Love is the fundamental principle of life. Fill your lives with love. Love is God. Live in Love. Ignoring such a sacred principle of love, man is misusing his life by cultivating wicked qualities like hatred, jealousy, etc.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 3rd, 2006
Human life is not meant to amass wealth. When you depart from the world, you cannot take even a penny with you. What you ultimately carry with you is only the results of your actions, merit or sin. Hence, do not indulge in sinful deeds. Undertake meritorious activities. Paropakaraya punyaya, Paapaya parapeedanam (one attains merit by serving others and commits sin by hurting them). Help ever, Hurt never. To the extent possible, perform acts of charity and help everybody. Fill your heart with love.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 4th, 2006
There is One in this world, by knowing which you would have known all. If That is not known, there is no point in knowing the rest. That is the knowledge of the Self. Zero gains value only when the numeral one is associated with it. Thereafter, the more the number of zeros, the more the value. When the numeral one is removed, all zeros lose their value. Love for the Self can be compared to the numeral one. Man’s life gains value only when he has love for the Self. It is the Atma that confers all powers on man. Those who bemoan their weakness are not aware of their inherent potential and are not putting it to right use.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 5th, 2006
Health is the fundamental requirement to achieve the four goals of human life, namely, Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire) and Moksha (liberation). However, once you attain the state of bliss, you can always enjoy good health. Man is deluded with the feeling that he can lead a blissful life by acquiring wealth and position of authority. Neither wealth nor position of authority can confer bliss on you. Bliss can be experienced only when you visualise unity in diversity. Man should make efforts to visualise unity in diversity and thereby attain divinity. Unity leads to purity. Where there is purity, there is divinity. Only through unity, purity and divinity, can one experience bliss.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 6th, 2006
The mind is very powerful. But man is diverting his mind towards trivial objects without trying to realise the Atma. As you are unable to realise your true Self, you are experiencing the dualities of pleasure and pain. Once you know your true Self, you will not be affected by them. All suffering is due to lack of morality in one's feelings and conduct. One's destiny is based on one's character. Character is based on actions. Actions are based on thoughts. Therefore, cultivate morality and sacred thoughts.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 7th, 2006
Do not be carried away by worldly pleasures. Take to the sacred path and sanctify your time by Namasmarana (contemplating on the Divine name). There is no need to allocate a specific time or a place for Namasmarana. You can do it wherever you are and while whatever you are doing. It may not be possible for you to undertake rigorous spiritual practices like meditation, penance, yoga, etc. It is enough if you chant the Divine Name. Do not undertake practices which you do not understand. Take to the simplest path, i.e., Namasmarana. It is the basis of all spiritual practices and the prescribed path to liberation in this Kali Age. So, sing His glory and cross this ocean of worldly existence.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 8th, 2006
Spirituality does not mean performing worship, going on pilgrimages or singing Bhajans. Spirituality lies in destroying the animal tendencies and rising to the level of divinity. So long as there are animal tendencies in man, he cannot rise to the level of divinity. You are neither a wild animal to cause fear in others nor a docile domestic animal to be afraid of others. You are born as a human being with noble human qualities. So, recognise your humanness and divinity. But man today is not able to realise this truth and, consequently, he is frittering away his life.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 9th, 2006
Atma is like the control room. Once you gain access to the ‘control room’, all your senses and the mind will be under your control. When the main switch of the house is turned on, the bulbs in all the rooms will glow. The Atma is like the main switch and the senses are like the bulbs in different rooms. These rooms are of your own making. Each room is separated from the other by a wall. Once the walls are demolished, only one big hall remains. Body attachment is like the wall that separates one from the other and which comes in the way of realising the Self. Once this wall is broken down, you will realise the infinite and immortal Self.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 10th, 2006
Creation has to be viewed as a Cosmic Stage. God is the director and actor in this play. He assigns all the roles of the characters in the play. All creatures in the world are manifestations of the Divine. The good and the evil in the world are varied expressions of the same Divine consciousness. Man should not be misled by these expressions. Behind all the myriad actions of the actors, the Divine Director is at work. It should be realised that though names and forms may vary, languages and nationalities may be different, the human race is one in its divine essence.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 11th, 2006
Today people are unable to understand the principle of Divinity. Though the modes of worship vary, they are all directed towards different forms of the same Godhead. Just as water has no specific shape, but assumes the shape of the vessel into which it is poured and just as air is formless, but assumes the form of a balloon or a football when it is filled in them, likewise, you may call Him Rama, Krishna, Easwara, etc., yet all are one. They refer to the same God. Each person worships a particular form according to his or her likes. All names and forms are only your imaginations; in reality, God has no name and no form.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 12th, 2006
If someone were to ask you, “Who are you?”, you should say with conviction that you are the Atma. What is mind? It is an aspect of the Self. Just as sugar is the basis for all sweets, the Atma is the basis for the body, mind and intellect. Understand that you are the spark of the Atma and strive to harmonise your mind, intellect and Samskara (innate tendencies). Samskara is very subtle. It follows you like a shadow from birth to birth. You have the power to refine yourself, but you are not making use of it. When you leave the body what follows you is only Samskara and not Samsara (family). But you ignore Samskara and get caught up in Samsara, and suffer from lack of peace.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 13th, 2006
Moral and spiritual values have to be honoured as much as, if not more than, economic and material values. Morality alone can confer health and wealth on man. Your behaviour should be befitting your human birth. Neeti (morality) and Nijayati (integrity) are the life principles of Manava jathi (human race). One without morality cannot be called a human being. Develop morality and lead an honest life. Only then can you attain Easwaratwam (Divinity).
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 14th, 2006
Those who ask, "Where is God?" do not realise that all they see in the cosmos is a manifestation of the Divine. That is why the scriptures declare, "Pashyannapi cha na pashyathi mudho" (Even while seeing, the foolish one does not see). Man is all the time seeing the universe around him and yet declares he has not seen God. What is the form of the Cosmos? Is it not Divine? You are seeing the Divine in the form of the physical universe. In the Bhagavath Gita, this cosmic form of the Lord is described as Viswa Viraata Roopa. What is Viswa? It is the whole cosmos. The Viswa Viraata Roopa is the collective form of everything in the universe.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 15th, 2006
Ishavaasyam Idam Jagat (the entire world is permeated by God). It is also said, Easwarah Sarva Bhutanaam (God is the indweller of all beings). He is present in all beings in the form of Consciousness. Man goes on pilgrimages in search of God as he is ignorant of his divinity. One does not acquire any special powers from going to temples. What one gets is only the reflection of one’s own inner being. The power that is present in pilgrimage centres is only due to the power of devotion and faith that pilgrims carry in their hearts.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 16th, 2006
Ekam Eva Adviteeyam Brahma (God is one without a second). Man attributes different names and forms to God because of his worldly feelings and outward tendencies. Truly speaking, there is only one God. Ek Prabhu Ke Anek Naam (the one God is referred to by many names). Give up body attachment. Only then can you develop attachment towards the Atma. As you are endowed with a physical body, you have to discharge your duties diligently. However, do not be deluded with the feeling that this is permanent. All the physical relationships are like passing clouds and are subject to change.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 17th, 2006
Every man aspires for happiness and wants to avoid sorrow. But in this world, truth and untruth, righteousness and unrighteousness, joy and sorrow pass and change with time. Man should have faith in the ultimate principle out of which both good and evil arise. The true man is one who treats pain and pleasure equally. You should trust the Divine and experience His love in your hearts. In this world, the gain from sorrow is more than that out of happiness. The saints and sages of yore, who have become immortal in history, aspired for hardships rather than happiness. The joy that arises out of overcoming hardships is more lasting than that gained from happiness. Hence, we should not be averse to sorrow nor should we look for happiness alone.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 18th, 2006
Speak the truth, speak pleasantly and do not speak unpalatable truth. These three correspond to moral, righteous, and spiritual values respectively. Man's life is the combination of these three values. Adhere to truth and righteousness. Truth is unchanging. Trikala Badhyam Sathyam (that which is unchanging in the past, present and future) alone is truth. It is said that the evil effects of Kali Age cannot shake the one whose heart is filled with compassion, whose speech is suffused with truth and whose body is used for serving others.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 19th, 2006
Wherever you may be, in whatever country, do not give room for religious differences. Adhere to your faith and your traditions. When differences between religions are given up, love will develop in you. When love grows, you can have a direct vision of God. Without love, mere verbal prayers are of no avail. Realise that love is present in everyone. It is the unifier, the motivator and the bringer of joy to all. Therefore, cultivate love. Love is the form of the Divine and God can be realised only through love.
-SAI BABA





Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 20th, 2006
If a man today is under the sway of sorrow and misery, his mind is responsible for it. Happiness and sorrow, affections and aversions, and the sensual pleasures that man experiences arise out of his mind. Since the mind is filled with the sense of duality you suffer all these. When the mind is trained to see the oneness of all creation, there will not be perversions of any kind. You should face everything in life with a smile. In this dualistic world, it is natural that gain and pain alternate. You cannot avoid it. You should neither despair when adversities confront you nor exult when fortune smiles on you. Adversity is a stepping-stone to eternal bliss.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 21st, 2006
The goal of self-realisation depends upon the foundation of self-confidence. You must, therefore, first develop confidence in yourself. Without having confidence in yourself, if all the time you are talking of some power being with someone else, when are you going to acquire any power and confidence in yourself? You should consider self-confidence as the most important asset in life. Without self-confidence, you can never attain bliss. You are God yourself; God is the eternal resident of your heart.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 22nd, 2006
Tell me your company and I shall tell you what you are. When you associate yourself with ephemeral things, the results also are bound to be so. You should develop friendship with Divinity, which alone is true and eternal. Divinity is very much present in you. The external world is subject to change. The world is nothing but a combination of matter. Everything in this world is transitory. Nothing is permanent. The unseen Atmic principle alone is true and eternal.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 23rd, 2006
Any mighty task can be achieved by chanting the Divine Name. For spiritual practices like meditation and penance, a specific time and place are required. But for chanting the Divine Name, no such restriction need be followed. Wherever you are, whatever you may be doing, you can chant the Divine Name. Sarvada Sarva Kaleshu Sarvatra Hari Chintanam (everywhere, at all times and under all circumstances, contemplate on God).
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 24th, 2006
When there is a downpour, the water that comes down is pure. The rain falls on mountains, plains and valleys. According to the region through which the rain water passes, its name and form undergoes changes. But due to these variations, it should not be thought that the water itself is different. Based on the teachings of the founders of different faiths, having regard to the requirements of the time and circumstance of particular countries, and keeping in view the specific needs of the people concerned, certain rules and regulations were laid down. On this account, one faith should not be considered superior and another inferior. Man's primary duty is to bear in mind the sacred truths they espouse and practise them in his life.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 25th, 2006
In all religions, birthdays of great personalities are celebrated but the ideals for which they lived are not remembered and followed. If you do not care to follows their teachings, the celebrations lose their meaning and become artificial observances. It is not doing justice to the good people whose birthdays are being celebrated. 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. The Divinity within should be reflected in every action. The seat of Truth is in your heart. Worship means loving others with your full heart. You must live in love and lead a life of selfless service based on love. This is the only right way of celebrating the birth of Christ.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 26th, 2006
Every man should seek to know what Sath-Chith-Ananda (Being-Awareness-Bliss) means. Only then can he realize his true self. Due to the delusion caused by the phenomenal world, man regards Sath-Chith-Ananda as distinct from himself. This feeling arises from his attachment to the body. As long as man identities himself with the body and his physical attributes, he will be in quest of Sath-Chith-Ananda. When a man has discovered the true nature of the "I", he will not go after any worldly object. He will realize that he is verily the embodiment of Sath-Chith-Ananda.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 27th, 2006
The fundamental ignorance called Maya plays many tricks with you. It makes you believe the rope to be a snake and you run away in fright. It makes you imagine a lake of water where there are only the hot sands of the desert, and you run towards it to slake your thirst! And you call it, "mayaa," meaning, "through me," "for me," in Sanskrit, thus identifying yourselves with it, as if it is real and beneficial. The moment you realise it is illusory, it ceases to bother you. Maya creates the universe; it spreads before the mind the vast paraphernalia of the objective world. It is a Narthakee (dancer), an enchantress who entices the intelligence and traps the senses. This na-rtha-kee can be subdued by kee-rtha-na. Keerthana is the contemplation and singing of the glory of God.
-SAI BABA





Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 28th, 2006
Difficulties come and go like passing clouds. You don't need to worry about them. Keep your vision fixed on the sun. Sometimes, clouds cover the sun. But, have patience. When the clouds move away, the sun will be visible again. In the same manner, the clouds of worldly delusion come in the way of Atmic vision. In such situations, you should not let your mind waver. Have patience. The 'clouds' will recede and the 'sun' will reappear in all its brilliance.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 29th, 2006
There is a creator behind this enchanting cosmos. He is Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent. He is worshipped as God using many names and in many forms by various people. Unity, brotherhood and devotion are essential for every human being. To promote these sacred qualities in mankind, some great souls sought to establish different religions. Religion is not a restrictive concept. Religion is intended to develop the human personality and indicate the basic guidelines for right living. Religion brings out the humanness in man and enables him to live in harmony with his fellowmen. It provides the link between the individual and the Divine. It demonstrates the unity that underlies the diversity in creation.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 30th, 2006
What is 'Moksha'? It is giving up of the 'Anatma', the unreal. Suppose you want a glass of fruit juice, unless you throw away the water already in the glass, you cannot pour juice in to the glass. Similarly, unless you give up worldly desires, 'Atmabhava' (spirituality) cannot take root in you. When you spend your hours immersed in thoughts about God, you become free from evil ways. You will not be tempted to abuse others or harm them in any way. You begin to live in Love, accepting all events as His gifts. Then your home verily becomes heaven on Earth; the joy that bubbles in your heart is the symbol of Vaikunta (abode of Lord Vishnu); the earnestness and care that you evince in your work will symbolise Kailasha (the abode of Lord Shiva).
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – Dec. 31st, 2006
God's grace is the greatest wealth. To consider the amassing of money, gold or other material objects as the ultimate goal of life is not right. The goal of life instead, should be the acquisition of the divine wealth of God's grace. Try to win His grace by reforming your habits, reducing your desires and refining your nature. One step makes the next one easier; that is the unique quality of the spiritual path. With each step, your strength and confidence increases and you feel the Lord's grace all the more.
-SAI BABA