Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 1st, 2006
The essence of all religions, the message of all scriptures and the destiny of all mankind is the same. But because of selfishness, narrow-mindedness and self-interest, religion is used as a pretext for promoting differences and conflicts. Morality, integrity, righteousness, charity, truth, forbearance and non-violence are basic tenets of all religions. But over the years, men have forgotten these truths and have fostered divisive tendencies in the place of unity. As a result, respect for human values has vanished. It is essential to recognise the Divine unity that suffuses all the apparent diversity in human existence.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 2nd, 2006
Peace cannot be found in the external world but within oneself. One should realize that the whole universe is pervaded by the Divine. Today the world is filled with strife. It is not possible to make a distinction between a human being and a demon. Man, who evolved from the animal, instead of proceeding towards Divinity, is regressing to animality. Man's primary duty is to uphold the human values of Truth, Righteousness, Peace and Love. However, man today is enveloped in attachment and hatred. The moment he casts them off, he will realize his divinity.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 3rd, 2006
All that one sees in the entire universe is a manifestation of Brahman (Godhead). Some people ask: "How can we petty human beings be equal to the all encompassing Brahman?" This is not correct. You are that omnipotent, all-pervading Brahman. Due to your worldly attitude, you are not recognising the Reality. You are separating yourself from the Divine. All that you see is Brahman. To search for God as something different from you is a mistake. But this truth is not easily recognised by man. When you look at the ocean, its endless series of waves and the frothing foam on the waves, they all appear separate from each other. But the truth is they are all one. The water in the waves and in the foam comes from the same ocean and has the same qualities as the ocean.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 4th, 2006
Spiritual love has to be distinguished from love or attachment related to the body, the mind or the intellect. The latter are related to the world and are a source of sorrow. True love is pure, selfless, free from ego and is full of bliss. Worldly attachments are not real love at all. They are transient, whereas the everlasting, pure love arises from the heart. How is it that man is unable to recognise this all-pervading love? It is because man's heart has become barren and polluted. The heart is filled with all kinds of desires and there is no room in it for pure, unsullied love to enter. It is only when worldly attachments are expelled from the heart that there will be room for true love to abide in it and to grow.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 5th, 2006
Love is of four kinds. The first one, Svaartha-Prema, is like a lamp kept in a room; it illumines only the room. This kind of selfish love is confined to a limited group and does not extend to others. Samanjasa-Prema may be compared to the light from the moon. Though moonlight is visible everywhere, it is dim. This kind of love extends to a wider group, but is not very intense. The third is Paraartha-Prema. It is like sunlight - very brilliant and spreads everywhere. But like the sun that disappears at night only to rise again at dawn, this kind of love may appear to be absent at times, but it will appear again. The fourth one is Yathaartha-Prema or Atma-Prema. This love is present in all places, at all times and under all circumstances. This is Divine Love. It is eternal, imperishable and immanent in everyone. When this love is manifested by a person, he achieves the peace that passeth all understanding.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 6th, 2006
The Mother principle is highly sacred. The mother fosters the child in the womb and goes through all travails to protect the child. There is no greater love in the world than maternal love. For every person the first preceptor is the mother. It is from the mother that a child learns to speak its first few words, take its first few steps and learn the first lessons in good conduct. That is why the ancients accorded the highest place of honour to the mother and declared: "Mathru devo bhava" (Esteem the mother as Divine).
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 7th, 2006
By constant contemplation on God the mind should be turned away from mundane desires. That is the way to transcend the dualities of pain and pleasure. Man has to wake up from the sleep of ignorance and realize his divine essence. When worldly desires are reduced, bliss will be experienced. Along with the control of desires, men should also get rid of Ahamkara (ego). Men today are filled with fear because they have no confidence in themselves. A bird can brave a storm because it has faith in its wings. But man succumbs to the slightest reverses of fortune because he does not rely on the power of the Spirit. People must rely primarily on the power of the Divine. With confidence in the Self, they should devote themselves to good deeds. This is the purpose of life. Every step you take must bring you nearer to God.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 8th, 2006
Good qualities can be acquired only by practice. Though it may seem difficult, like moving an object uphill, yet the effort has to be made. Sadhana (spiritual practice) must be done with full faith and without any room for doubt. Cultivate love for God. There is nothing greater than that. As your love grows stronger, the Spirit in you will shine brighter. Spiritual growth calls for restraint on desires. In addition, you also have to get rid of attachments and aversions. The three great enemies of man are Kama (desire), Krodha (anger) and Lobha (greed). Desire destroys devotion, anger annihilates wisdom, and greed poisons every action. These three vices are deleterious to Sath-Karma (good deeds), Upasana (devotion) and Jnana (spiritual wisdom). The only way to get rid of them is to burn them in Prema-Agni (the fire of Divine Love).
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 9th, 2006
If you wish to lead an ideal life, you have to follow the example of the Avatars (Divine incarnations). Avatars may appear in human form, but you should not equate them with ordinary mortals. In physical form, both may appear alike. But there is a fundamental difference. You should not mistake the cotton fruit for the mango. When man strays away from the path of righteousness, God comes in human form to reform him. Birds, beasts and insects lead lives according to their specific nature. It is only man who has given up all righteousness, forgotten his divine essence and degraded his humanness. The Avatar has to protect the good, reform the erring and punish the wicked.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 10th, 2006
Self-realization should be the goal of human existence. It has to be reached through three stages: Self-confidence, self-satisfaction and self-sacrifice. Man should regard himself as the master of the body, the senses and the mind. He has to use the intellect to experience his oneness with the divine, the cosmic all-pervading consciousness. The flame of Prajnaana (constant integrated awareness) which is in everyone is covered by the ash of worldly desires. When the ash is blown off, the fire of Brahman (Absolute Divinity) reveals itself in all its glory.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 11th, 2006
Giving up narrow ideas and feelings, people should show compassion towards their fellow-beings. Compassion is the hallmark of Bhakthi (devotion). No one can hope to please God without showing Daya (compassion) towards his fellow-men. A loving heart is the temple of God. God cannot dwell in a heart without compassion. There is nothing greater in the world than Prema-drishti (feeling of universal love). They alone are good who see the unity in the apparent diversity. Men have to realize that they are sparks of the Divine. They have to develop sacred thoughts and lead ideal lives. They must seek to promote the welfare of society.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 12th, 2006
Developing attachment to persons and possessions is the cause of all sorrow. By reducing attachments and developing love for God, one can reduce misery and experience more happiness. The more one loves God, the more the bliss one experiences. Men are plunged in misery because they hanker after the physical instead of yearning for God. If men transform their desire for material objects into the desire for the Supreme they will enjoy immense happiness. All that is necessary is to see the Divine in everything. This is true devotion. Work will then turn into worship and every act rendered holy.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 13th, 2006
Man should realize that the five basic elements which constitute the fundamental stuff of the universe are common to all mankind. He should see the divine in every human being. This is the purport of the prayer: Buddham Sharanam Gachchaami, Sangham Sharanam Gachchaami, Dharmam Sharanam Gachchaami. The meaning of the prayer is that for the sake of upholding Dharma (Righteousness), one should use one's Buddhi (the enlightened intellect) and engage in service of Sangha (society). Man has been endowed with a body essentially to pursue Dharma.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 14th, 2006
One should realize that just as the body can be healthy only so long as the blood is pure, real bliss can be experienced only when the mind is filled with thoughts of God. Divinity cannot be discovered by experiment. To realize this inherent divinity in man the royal path is the path of spirituality. The nine forms of devotion mentioned in the scriptures may not directly reveal God, but they do show the path to God-realization. Of these, chanting the name of the Lord is the simplest. Whatever form of worship, penance or meditation one may adopt, the foundation is the Lord's name. Chanting the Lord's name is essential for crossing the turbulent ocean of life. It is a boat that can carry you across the deepest ocean. While chanting the Lord's name, one should be tranquil and pure at heart. Ostentation and egoism should be eschewed.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 15th, 2006
The true goal of human life is to have the vision of Brahman (Divinity) and merge in it. The ancients declared that there are three stages in the path towards the goal: Karma jignyasa, Dharma jignyasa and Brahma jignyasa (seeking spiritual knowledge through meritorious acts, right conduct and divinity). Through Karma (action), one follows Dharma (righteousness and morality) and then seeks to find the basis of morality that is Brahman (God). One discovers that morality and righteousness add to one's Ananda (Bliss) and that all Ananda everywhere flows from Brahman itself. One then realizes that any activity devoid of this awareness is barren and causes bondage.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 16th, 2006
Transcend anekathwa bhava (the feeling of multiplicity) and cultivate ekathwa bhava (the feeling of oneness) - that will end strife, grief, pain and pride. See all beings as manifestations of the same Divinity. Feel that the reason you are able to talk and walk, think and act is due to the God within. Differences that strike you where you cast your eyes are illusory; you have not yet developed the vision that makes you comprehend the unity which underlies the apparent diversity. The fault lies with you, not with the world. The world is one; but each takes it to mean what pleases him most. Each sees it in his own way and hence, it appears as if it has multiple facets.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 17th, 2006
To realize God, it is not necessary to have wealth, gold, luxuries and comforts; nor is scholarship a requisite. All that is needed is pure devotion. Without purity of thought, word and deed, it is impossible to experience the Divine. God cannot be realized through ostentation and self-conceit. The basic requisite is the shedding of selfishness and possessiveness so that one can engage oneself in actions in a disinterested spirit. Any person is entitled to embark on this quest irrespective of age, caste or gender.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 18th, 2006
When the obstacles in the path of truth are laid low, deliverance is achieved. That is why moksha (liberation) is something that can be won, here and now; one need not wait for the dissolution of the physical body for that. Action must not be felt as a burden, for that feeling is a sure sign that the particular action is ill-advised. No deed that helps your progress will weigh heavily on you. It is only when you go counter to your innermost nature that you feel it a burden. A time comes when you look back on your achievement and sigh at the futility of it all. Entrust your mind to the Lord, before it is too late, and let Him shape it as He thinks best.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 19th, 2006
Assign to your mind the task of serving the Lord and it will grow tame. You hand over only ornaments that need repair or reshaping to the goldsmith. So too, give the Lord your mind that certainly needs repair, if not complete reconstruction. The blemish that affects the mind is illusion. It is like a fierce dog that will not allow any one to approach the master. Illusion is the Lord's pet and so, it will not harm you if He orders it not to. Hence, the way to avoid the dog is by calling out to the master loudly, so that he comes to welcome you himself, that is to say by praying to the Lord to shower His grace upon you.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 20th, 2006
Everyone must seek and discover the answer to the question, "Who am I?" The senses are powerless to give the answer; indeed they are limited in their own functioning - there are sounds the ear cannot hear, colours the eye cannot perceive, and tastes beyond the ken of the tongue. They are imperfect instruments for the study of the external world. How then can they serve us in our enquiry into the intangible, inner world of the Self? Contemplate on the truth that the body and the Atma (Self) are separate. This practice is indispensable for realizing the truth of one's Divinity.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 21st, 2006
You should cultivate an attitude of inseparable attachment to the Lord, who is your very self. If He is a flower, you should feel that you are the bee that sucks nectar from it; if He be a tree, feel that you are creeper that clings to it; if He be a cliff, then feel that you are a cascade running over it; if He be the sky, be a tiny star that twinkles in it; above all, be conscious of the truth that you and He are bound by Supreme Love. If you feel this intensely, the journey will be quick and the goal can be won easily.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 22nd, 2006
The best way to get rid of weakness is to strike at its very roots - the mistaken notion that you are the body, with a name and form, the five senses, intelligence and the mind. In fact, these are like baggage. Don't you say, "my nose, my mind, my hand, my reason", just as you say, "my book, my umbrella?" Who is the 'I' that calls all these 'mine'? That is the real 'you'. It was there when you were born, and also when you were sleeping, forgetful of everything, even your body. That 'I' cannot be harmed; it does not change, it knows neither birth nor death. Learn the discipline that makes you aware of this Truth and you will be ever free and bold. That is real vidya, the Atmavidya (Knowledge of the Self), which the sages have gathered for you after intense penance and contemplation.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 23rd, 2006
Liberation is just the awareness of Truth, the falling off of the scales of delusion from the eye; it is not the preserve of a few expert spiritual aspirants. Like the river losing its form, its name and its taste in the sea, liberation dissolves the name and form, aptitudes and attitudes. You are no more a separate individual. The rain drop has merged in the sea, from where the drop arose. Of course there was no bondage, at any time, and no prison; there was only a fixation in the mind that one was bound, that one was in prison, that one was limited and finite!
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 24th, 2006
The tongue is the armour of the heart; it guards one's life. Loud and irresponsible speech, full of anger and hate, affects the health of man. It breeds anger and hate in others. Silence is said to be golden. The silent man has no enemies, though he may not have many friends either. He has the opportunity to dive within himself and examine his own faults and failings. He has no more inclination to seek them in others. If your foot slips, you suffer a fracture; if your tongue slips, you fracture some one's faith or joy. That fracture can never be set right; that wound will fester for ever. Therefore, use the tongue with great care. The softer your speech, the lesser you talk, the sweeter you talk, the better the world will be.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 25th, 2006
There is no meaning in worshipping God as Sathyaswaroopa (the embodiment of Truth), and not adhering to truth in daily life. Dharma (righteousness) is based on truth. This righteousness emanates from the heart. Righteousness promotes self-satisfaction. It is an expression of self-consciousness. Have faith in the promptings of this divine consciousness. No one should act against the dictates of his conscience. Acting in violation of the conscience is evil; action based on the conscience is righteous. True worship consists therefore in doing what is right as dictated by your conscience.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 26th, 2006
The pain that another suffers from, which you seek to assuage, is really your own pain. When you alleviate another's suffering, it is your suffering that ends. Service can be effective only when the feelings of 'I' and 'Mine' give place to 'Him' and 'His'. It is when your attention is monopolised by the body and its needs that egoism grows in strength. When you direct your attention to the Antaratma (Inner Self) which is God, then, you find the same of God in all and a flood of reverence fills you and sanctifies every act of yours.
-SAI BABA





Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 27th, 2006
Man's actions are related to desires and aversions. They are the cause of his joys and sorrows. All the world's ills arise from the evil thoughts and deeds of men. It is only when man is transformed that society can transform and the world be reformed. Man does not use his sense organs in the right way. He has eyes, but does not see what is good. He has ears, but does not listen to what is good. There is only one way to correct him. He has to be shown the spiritual path and guided to cultivate the virtues of Truth, Love and self-sacrifice. He must be weaned away from selfish pursuits and from arrogance and pride. His mind, which is the real culprit, has to be cleansed of all evil. One can acquire real peace and joy only when one turns one's thoughts towards God and away from the world.
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 28th, 2006
At the core of this universe is the Paramatma (Supreme Self), which lies beyond the comprehension of the mind. Both the cognisable and non-cognisable have emanated from the same One Indivisible Consciousness. Each is full and complete in itself. The individual consciousness is the manifestation of the Cosmic Consciousness. When the material sheath falls off, it merges in its source. The Vedas declare, "That is full; this is full. From the full, emerges the full. When the full is taken from the full, the full remains full." So, the Cosmos, the world, the individual - all are embodiments of the Full. All this is indeed Brahman. The awareness of the immanence of the Universal can come to man only when the 'I' consciousness is transcended.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 29th, 2006
It is indeed pathetic to see people falling prey to the vagaries of the mind and courting disaster instead of using the intellect to discriminate between the transient and the permanent. The mind should be checked by the intellect. Or else, evil resolutions translated into action will result in sorrow. Resolve on good actions and reap joy. Of course, if one can desist from desires and the tendency to pursue them, one can enjoy unbroken peace. If the mind is let loose and yielded mastery, man is driven from one desire to another. He loses his self-respect. He sets at naught law and justice, rules of conduct and regulations of social behaviour. His life becomes a frantic rush from place to place and object to object. Detachment alone can give happiness. Thyaga (renunciation) is the real yoga.
-SAI BABA



Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 30th, 2006
You wear coloured glasses and see everything through those glasses. Correct your vision; the world will get corrected. Reform yourselves; the world will get reformed. You create the world of your choice. You see many, because you seek the many, not the One. Try to subsume the many in the One - yourselves and others, the family, the neighbourhood, the community, the state, the nation, the world. This is the Sadhana of Love, for Love is expansion. The individual has to be Universalised and expanded into the Vishwaswaroopa (the Cosmic Self).
-SAI BABA




Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 31st, 2006
The Prakrithi (world) we see around us cannot give us happiness. The experiences Prakrithi gives us in the waking state get obliterated in the dream state, and those of the dream stage cease when we wake up from the dream. The dream experiences are our own creation. And so are the waking state experiences! The experience of the world is but a projection of our mind and the reflection of our own inner thoughts. As the thought, so the vision. The colour of glasses you wear determines the colour in which things appear to you. If you wear red glasses, everything will appear red. If you wear green glasses, everything will appear green. Pure thoughts make the world appear as pure. If you view things with Prema, with a loving heart, the whole world, the whole creation will appear to you as a reflection of Prema.
-SAI BABA