Words
of Prema and Shanti - Words of
Love and
Peace
Love
is My Form
Love
is my form,
truth is my breath, bliss is my
food
My life is my
message expansion is my life
No season for love, no reason for
love, no birth no death
Prema Sathya Ananda, Shanti Dharma
Ananda
Shirdi Sai Sathya Sai Prema Sai
Jai Jai
Shirdi Baba Sathya Baba Prema Baba
Jai Jai
Love is my form, truth is my
breath, bliss is my food.
A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|Y|
Z
:
on Avatâra:
"This
avatâra has no destructive weapon in
His possession, like the
Kodanda (bow) of Râma, or the Cakra
(discus) of S'rî
Krishna. He relies on education,
rather than elimination; instruction
rather than destruction. The good
are encouraged to become better, the
better to enter the region of the
best and the blessed. The bad are
encouraged to shed the coil of
cowardice, which keeps them in
fear." -Baba-
"Since I move
freely among them, talking and
singing, even intellectuals are
unable
to grasp my truth, my power, my
glory, or my real task as
Avatâra. I can solve any problem
however knotty; I am beyond the
reach of the most intensive enquiry
and the most meticulous
measurement. Only those who have
recognised my love and experienced
that love can assert that they have
glimpsed my reality. For the path
of Love is the royal road that leads
mankind to me." -Baba-
: on
Âtma:
"Space is one. But it
is held in diverse containers
like the home, the pot, the building
and the canvas. There is no truth
in this divided existence; it is the
one space that exists in all these
‘receptacles’ which are varied shapes
and forms, with distinct names
attached to them, and different modes
of behaviour and use. So too,
individual beings (jivas) have
different names and forms,
peculiarities, specialties and
behaviours. But like the string that
holds the beads, passing in and
through each one, the Super
Consciousness in all individuals is
ONE. That is the Self, Atma, which
is mistaken as the ego through
ignorance. Only when this truth is
acquired, can man release himself from
the hold of this transient
world." - From Sathya Sai Vahini. -Baba-
: on
Birthday:
"I do not
accost
one particular date in the calendar
as My birthday, for I consider the
day when Divinity blossoms in your
heart as My birthday in you.
Therefore: each of you should
individually celebrate such a day as
My
birthday. The day when you resolve
to practise My advice, to follow My
directives, to translate My message
into acts of service, and to engage
in Sadhana - that day is My birthday
for you. The 23d day of November,
which you now honor as the day on
which I was born, is only like any
other day if you celebrate in a
routine, ritual fashion. Adore man;
the
adoration reaches Me. Neglect man;
you neglect Me. Of what avail is it
to worship the Lord and to
suppress man, His counterpart?
Love
for God must be manifested as love
for man, and love must express
itself as service." [see also: Mother's
role in human values, spoken by
Svami on His 77th birthday] -Baba-
: on
the Body:
You are overly concerned
about the human body. It is but
like a water bubble. The mind is a
bundle of thoughts. Hence, one
should not lead one's life reposing
one’s entire faith in the body and
mind. In today's world,
righteousness has declined and the
whole world
is filled with injustice,
indiscipline, and evil behaviour. In
such a
chaotic state, faith in God is the
only lasting remedy. Love God to
receive the gift of love from God.
Truth is the only refuge, for truth
is God. Love is God, live in love. -Baba-
: on
Character:
"When there
is righteousness in the heart,
There is beauty in the character.
When there is beauty in the
character,
There is harmony in the home.
When there is harmony in the home,
There is order in the nation.
When there is order in the nation,
There is peace in the world."
-Baba-
"It is often
declared
that knowledge is power. No,
character is power. Nothing can be
more
powerful on earth than character.
Riches, scholarship, status,
authority are all frail and flimsy
before it. While earning a
livelihood is important, what
matters most are the ideals for
which you
live. The primary purpose of
education is to enable one to
manifest the
divinity within him. When students
pursue education in this spirit,
they will be able to promote the
welfare of the nation, of society
and
their own good." -Baba-
"Do not shape
your
conduct with an eye on the opinion
of others. Instead, follow bravely,
gladly and steadily the sweet and
pleasant promptings of your own satvic-manas
(pure mind), your own awakened
consciousness, your own inner self.
Associate yourself only with those
who are truthful. " -Baba-
: on
Darshan:
"My energy goes
from Me as I pass you. If you
proceed to talk to others
immediately,
the precious Energy is dissipated
and returns to Me unused. Whatever
My
eyes see becomes vitalizes and
transmuted. You are being changed
day by
day. Never underestimate what is
being accomplished by the act of
Darshan. My walking among you is a
Gift yearned for by the Gods of the
highest Heaven and here you are
daily receiving this Grace. Be
Grateful. The Blessings that you
receive will express themselves in
their perfect time. But also
remember that to whom much is given,
from
him much will be demanded." - Baba -
:
on
Devotion:
"The Lord can
be invoked only through the
intensity of the devotee's love;
He can never desist from
manifesting
Himself for the sake of His
devotee. The power of the blowing
wind
makes the waters of the ocean take
the form of waves. So too, God,
the
immanent basic being can manifest
in a picture or an image that one
worships on account of the power
of true devotion. In order to
fulfill
the yearning of His devotee, God
will appear in any form, through
any
means, at any place. But to see
God, you must pray to Him with
one-pointed concentration. This
single-mindedness comes only with
purity, which is itself derived
from meditation. Therefore you
must
cultivate virtues, which can be
inculcated from good company (satsang).
Seek
the
company
of
the
virtuous and avoid people with bad
character.
Your real friends are those who
talk and discourse about the Lord,
about truth, about the service (seva)
of others, and about love
that considers all as equal.
- Dhyana
Vahini, Ch 9. -Baba-
: on
Dreaming:
"Whenever
I
appear
in
a
dream,
it
is
to
communicate something to the
individual;
it is not a mere dream, as is
generally known. It is real
appearance".
- Baba. - Source.
: on
Education:
"Education
must implant elevating ideals and
kindle the lamp of wisdom. Character
is the most precious gift of
education." -Baba-
"One can
attain divinity only when he stops
hiding his mistakes and highlighting
the faults of others. It is a great
sin to search for others' faults.
Instead, look for your own. Consider
your smallest defect as a great
blunder and try to rectify the
same." -Baba-
"The
educational process has not received
proper attention from thoughtful
persons. The institutions which
ought to have been temples of
Saraswathi (the goddess of
transformation through learning)
have become
in all lands, temples of Lakshmi
(the goddess of wealth). The ideal
held before the tender, innocent,
unselfish children is a lucrative
job, rather than a life of peace,
contentment and love. Narrow
loyalties and competition are
polluting the minds of children.
Parents,
teachers and all interested in the
progress of mankind have to take
note of this situation." -Baba-
"Someone was
found writing "pepper" on a tin of
sugar, and when asked, he said, "It
is only to cheat the ants!" The
label "education" on the present
system
of teaching the young cannot cheat
any thinking person who looks for
the real purpose of education - the
unfolding of the divine in human
personality. Humility and an
attitude of reverence are essential
for
man. They are not promoted by the
educational system today. The
curricula recommended in the
Upanishads ensure these two." -Baba-
"Education must equip
man to live happily without making
others unhappy, to evaluate things,
pleasures and possessions correctly.
One who is ignorant of the
historical and cultural heritage of
his country is like an orphan. For
saplings to grow soil is essential;
for the ideals to get implanted,
knowledge of the struggles and
successes of saints and sages is
essential." -Baba-
: on
Faith/Religion:
"Let the
different faiths exist; let them
flourish and let the Glory of God be
sung in all the languages ... in a
variety of tunes; that should
be the ideal. Respect the
differences between the faiths and
recognize them as valid as long as
they do not extinguish the flame of
unity. If each person lives the
ideals propounded by the founders of
their religion, unaffected by
greed or hate, then the world will
be a happy and peaceful habitation
for man." -Baba-
"I carry no
labels assigning a country of
origin or residence for myself. The
entire mankind is my family. There
is no one in this world who does not
belong to me. All are mine. They
may not call out my name, but they
are still mine. I shall not give you
up even if you keep afar. I shall
not forsake even those who deny me.
I
have come for all." -Baba-
"There is
only one religion, the religion of
Love.
There is only one caste, the caste
of Humanity.
There is only one language, the
language of the Heart.
There is only one God, He is
Omnipresent." -Baba-
"Have full
faith in God and in yourselves.
Engage always in good deeds,
beneficial activities; speak always
the
truth, do not inflict pain by word
or deed or even thought. That is the
way to gain Santhi; that is the
highest gain which you can earn in
this
life." -Baba-
"The
atmosphere
of love should not be disturbed by
any uncharitable remark against
anyone's faith. Nor should anyone be
ridiculed or slandered. Children's
minds should not be polluted by
fear, hatred or disgust. The doors
of
their hearts must be open to all.
Later on as the impact of society
and
the State grows, pupils can be led
to an understanding of the political
and religious forces that affect
their lives." -Baba-
: on Guru:
The
best Guru
is the Divine in you; yearn for
hearing His voice. Prayer must
emanate
from the heart, where God resides,
and not from the head where
doctrines and doubts clash. Be happy
that others are happy. Patience is
all the strength that man needs. It
is easy to conquer anger through
love, attachment through reasoning,
falsehood through charity. -Baba-
Why
do
you
waste
your
time
and
energy
to
explain
me - can a fish measure
the sky? If I had come as Lord
Vishnu with four arms, they would
have
put me in a circus. If I had come as
a man like every other man, who
would listen to me? So, I had to
come in this human form with
infinite
powers and wisdom. -Baba-
: on
Happiness:
"The secret
of happiness is not doing what one
likes to do but in liking what one
has to do." -Baba-
"People,
today,
are
making
every
attempt
to
be
happy,
blissful.
Where do
you get bliss? Is it from the
material things of the world, from
people, or books? Not at all.
Bliss is within one's own
self. You have forgotten your
true Self, the source of bliss, and
are struggling hard for artificial
happiness outside. You are not aware
of the reality that lies in the
heart. In fact, all the bliss is
there. The principle of love
originates from the heart, not from
theworld. Everyone should develop
love, more and more. But,
today,
there is hatred and anger
everywhere. Light the lamp of
love
within, then fear and illusion can
be removed, and you can have a
vision of the Self. Otherwise,
you are bound to suffer. -Baba-
: on Hurting:
"In all that
man does
with a view to love himself, it is
not possible for him to ignore
loving others. Without cultivating
love for others, you can never
cultivate love for yourself. Sorrow
for yourself is gained by hurting
others. In the same manner, victory
in every war will result in another
war. So also, any happiness that you
can give to others will result in
happiness for yourself in the end.
Man must realize that he cannot get
anything without sharing it with
humanity around him. So, you must
believe that, in due course,
happiness of the people around you
will
lead to your own happiness." -Baba-
: on Kindness:
"Kindness to
all living beings is one of the
most important virtues of human
beings." -Baba-
: on
Knowledge:
"We believe
that
the acquisition of knowledge is for
the acquisition of wealth. But this
is not right. Just as a bird has two
wings, and a cart has two wheels;
man too must have two types of
knowledge - to live on and to live
for.
The one helps him to eke out his
livelihood and the other rewards him
for having lived at all. Whatever
job a student may take up, wherever
he may be working, he must continue
to practice spiritual discipline.
Without a spiritual basis, education
would be wasted." -Baba-
"The
end of
knowledge is wisdom, the end of
culture is perfection, the end of
wisdom is freedom, the end of
education is character." -Baba-
: on
Liberation:
"You have
come to get from me tinsel and
trash,
the petty cures and promotions,
worldly joys and comforts. Very few
of
you desire to get from me the thing
I have come to give you, namely,
liberation itself." -Baba-
:
on Life:
"Life is a
challenge, meet it;
Life is love, share it;
Life is a dream, realize it;
Life is a game, play
it." -Baba-
"A span of
life
allotted to man is very short; the
world in which he lives is very
wide; time extends far behind and
far beyond. What little man has to
do
here has to be done quickly, at the
place that is assigned to him and
within the time that is allotted to
him. And, man has such a formidable
task before him; it is to fulfill it
that he has come as man,
exchanging for this human habitat
all the merit he has acquired during
many past lives. The task is no less
than the manifestation of the
Divinity latent in him."
-Baba-
"Life is a
challenge, fight to the end.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is divine, realize it.
Life is character.
There is one path, complete
life." -Baba-
"The human
life is a
great gift from God. It should be
valued as such and used for sacred
purpose." -Baba-
"The advances
in science and technology have
enabled man to roam in the sky like
birds and move in water like fish.
But he has not mastered the art of
living well on the earth. If man has
not learned how to lead a worthy
human life, what is the value of his
existence? Make your life meaningful
by doing your duty to your parents
and your Motherland. The man who is
not proud of the land of his birth
is worse than a corpse. Learn to
love your country, without any
hatred
for other countries. Get rid of
differences based on community,
creed
or caste. Regard all mankind as one
family." -Baba-
"The age span
16-30 is crucial, for that is the
period when life adds sweetness to
itself, when talents, skills, and
attitudes are accumulated,
sublimated
and sanctified. If the tonic of
unselfish Seva is administered to
the
mind during this period, life's
mission is fulfilled - for the
process
of sublimation and sanctification
will be hastened by this tonic. Do
not serve for the sake of reward,
attracting attention, or earning
gratitude, or from a sense of pride
at your own superiority in skill,
wealth, status, or authority. Serve
because you are urged by love. When
you succeed, ascribe the success to
the Grace of God, who urged you on,
as Love within you. When you fail,
ascribe the failure to your own
inadequacy or
ignorance." -Baba-
"You do not see
the foundations of a skyscraper. Can
you, therefore, argue that it
simply sits on the ground? The
foundations of this life are
laid
deep in the past, in lives already
lived by you. This structure
has been shaped by the ground plan
of those lives. It is the
unseen foundation that decides the
structure and design of
the entire
edifice." -Baba-
"A home where
the members of the family are
leading their lives in keeping with
noble
ideals, where they together sing the
glory of the Lord's name and spend
their time in performing good deeds,
where the values of truth, peace
and love reign supreme, where
regular study of holy books are
undertaken, where the senses are
under control, and where there is
equal love and respect for all
creation prompted by the knowledge
of
the basic unity of all creation -
such a home is verily heaven on
earth." -Baba-
:
on
Lingam
"People
ask:
'Why
does
Swami produce the lingam
(formless form of God)
from within Himself on this
day'? But, let Me tell
you, it is
impossible for you to understand
the attributes of the divine and
to
measure its potentialities, or,
to gauge the significance of the
manifestation of divinity. It is
a agamya (unreachable)
and agochara
(un-understandable, mysterious).
Therefore, in order to bear
witness to
the fact that the divinity is
amidst you, it becomes necessary
to
express this attribute. Or else,
the atmosphere of hatred, greed,
cruelty, violence and
irreverence will overwhelm the
good, the humble
and the pious." -Baba-
:
on
the
Lord
"God is not
involved in either rewards or
punishments. He only reflects,
resounds and re-acts! He is the
Eternal
Unaffected Witness! You decide your
own fate. Even creation, protection
and destruction follow the same law,
the innate law of the maya-ridden
universe." -Baba-
"God does not
consider how wealthy or how learned
you are; He is concerned with the
sincerity and purity of your mind
and heart and about how
whole-hearted
and genuine your love is." -Baba-
"For the
protection of the virtuous, for the
destruction of evildoers, and for
establishing righteousness on a
firm footing - I incarnate
from age to age. Whenever disharmony
overwhelms the world, the Lord will
incarnate in human form to
establish the modes of earning
peace, and to re-educate the human
community in the paths of
peace." -Baba-
"Let us take a
cycle or a car tyre. If a
small pin is pierced in that tyre,
all
the air inside it will be
released. While all the air
that is in
the tyre goes out under such
conditions, your body, which has
nine big
holes in it can always hold life in
it without leaking out. Everything
is held together by God's strength.
God is present everywhere. You are
only a means through which God is
seeing everyone in this world. You
are imagining that you are seeing
with your eyes, but you are, in
fact,
seeing with God's eyes. This
world is full of God and everything
that you see is God." -Baba-
:
on
Love:
"There is one
religion, the religion of
Love" -Baba-
"Love all,
Serve all, Help ever, Hurt
never" -Baba-
"Love as
thought is Truth.
Love as action is Right Conduct.
Love as feeling is Peace.
Love as understanding is
Non-violence."
-Baba-
: on the Mind
of man:
"The mind is
like a lake. When the water is
calm, the rays of the sun are
reflected on the surface of water,
like a
mirror. But if the water is
disturbed because the wind is
blowing, then
there is very little reflection. Man
must learn to control his
mind." -Baba-
:
on
Miracles:
"My miracles
are my calling cards. I give the
people what they want so that they
will give me what I want, their love
of God." -Baba-
:
on
Mothers:
"The mother is
the pillar of the home, society,
nation and of humanity itself.
Mothers
must know the secret of mental
peace, of inner silence, of
spiritual
courage, of contentment (which is
the greatest wealth) and of
spiritual
discipline which give lasting
joy. -Baba-
If
you want to
know how advanced a nation is, study
the mothers: are they free from
fear and anxiety, are they full of
Love towards all, are they trained
in fortitude and virtue? If you like
to imbibe the glory of a culture,
watch the mothers, rocking the
cradles, feeding, fostering,
teaching
and fondling the babies.
-Baba-
Love
for the
mother has to be fostered by
everyone. Whoever she may be, a
mother is
verily divine. She is indeed the
first teacher for everyone. It is
only
the mother who strives most for
securing the well-being of the child
by
showering on him boundless affection
and love and showing him the
father." -Baba-
: on Nature:
"There are
some men who are like moths, who
must bore through whatever they come
across, silk or cotton or wool;
there are others who are like bees,
who seek only honey. The lotus
attracts bees from afar, but the
frogs that skip around it on the
lake
know naught of its beauty or
fragrance." -Baba-
"Consider for
a moment wherefrom the rain
comes. It comes from clouds. The
clouds have come from water vapor
rising from the sea. The rain
becomes a channel on the earth, then
a
rivulet and then a big river which
joins the sea. A pot made out of
clay, when it is broken, is cast on
the ground, where, in course of
time, it becomes clay again. Water
from the sea joins the sea, clay
from the earth goes back to earth
again, man alone forgets the source
from which he
came." -Baba-
: on Prema
Sai Baba:
"Lord Siva
conferred a boon to sage rishi
Bharadvaja that He would incarnate
in Kali Yuga (the present dark
age)
thrice in order to bless his gotra
and lineage. Sathya Sai Baba
declared that He is one part of
the three avataras of Sai,
a
Sai Trinity, that will lead
mankind to another golden age and
a time
when mankind will bow down to
India as the spiritual hub of the
world.
His first incarnation was as
Shirdi Sai Baba in Shirdi
(1835-1918) and
His final incarnation to come
eight years after He passes away
(24
April 2011 at 7:40 AM). This third
incarnation will be known as Prema
Sai Baba." -Baba-
: on
Religion:
"I preach only
one religion of love for all, which
alone can integrate the human race
into a brotherhood of man under the
fatherhood of God. I know only one
language - of the heart - beyond the
mind or intellect relating man to
man and mankind to God, thereby
creating mutual understanding,
cooperation, and community life in
peace and harmony. On this basis, I
want to build one humanity without
any religions, casts, or other
barriers in a universal empire of
love which could enable my devotees
to feel the whole world as their own
family." -Baba-
"It is good to
be born in a church, but it is not
good to die in it." [SSS - The
Shirdi Feet]
: on Sadhana
(spiritual practise):
"Sadhana
(spiritual practice) must render you
calm, unruffled, poised, balanced.
Make your mind cool and comfortable
as moonlight, for the moon is the
deity holding sway over de mind. Be
calm in speech, be calm in response
to malice, caviling and praise.
Calmness of senses, passions,
emotions, feelings, impulses - that
is
real santhi (peace) . Do not be led
away by doubt and vain arguments;
do not question how and whether I
can do all this." -Baba-
"The
best
sadhana is that every act through
the day be done as worship of God.
God is like electric power. The
heart is the light bulb. The wiring
is
the discipline. The switch is the
intelligence." -Baba-
: on
Shiva:
"Aum
Namah
Shivaya - Take the ideal
of Lord Shiva. When the
devastating halahala
poison emerged from the ocean,
the life on earth was threatened
with
immediate and total destruction.
Lord Shiva offered to drink the
poison
and save the world (see this
story here in S.B.
8.7).
His throat is blue ever since,
for the poison has pervaded the
area. Be
eager
to
serve, to come to the rescue
of others." -Baba-
"The
bull
(see also S.B.
1:16
& 1.17)
on
which Lord Shiva is said to ride
is not the animal by that name,
but
the symbol of dharma
(righteousness) which has four
legs - Sathya
(truth), Dharma
(righteousness), Shanti
(peace) and Prema
(love)." -Baba-
:
on
Silence:
"Practice
silence. For the voice of God can be
heard in the region of the heart
only when the tongue is still ...
Silence is the speech of the
spiritual seeker. Soft sweet speech
is the expression of genuine love.
Hate screeches, fear squeals,
conceit trumpets - but love sings
lullabies; it soothes, it applies
balm." -Baba-
"Silence
is the only language of the
realized. Practice
moderation in speech. That
will help you in many
ways. It will develop Prema,
for most misunderstandings
and factions
arise out of carelessly
spoken words. When the foot
slips, the wound
can be healed; but when the
tongue slips, the wound it
causes in the
heart of another will fester
for life. The tongue is
liable to four big
errors: uttering falsehood,
scandalizing, finding fault
with others,
and excessive speech. All
these have to be avoided if
there is to be
santhi for the individual as
well as for society."
-Baba-
"One
of
the first principles of
straight living is the
practice of silence. For
the voice of God can be
heard in the region of
your heart when the
tongue is stilled and
the storm is tilled and
the waves are calm.
There
will be no temptations
for others to shout when
you talk to them in
whispers. Set the level
of the tone yourself; as
low as possible, as
high as necessary to
reach the outermost
boundary of the circle
you are
addressing. Conserve
sound, since it is the
treasure of the element
akasa,
an
emanation from God
Himself. Reason can
prevail only when
arguments
are advanced without the
whipping up of sound.
Silence is the speech of
the spiritual seeker.
Soft sweet speech is the
expression of genuine
love. Hate screeches,
fear squeals, conceit
trumpets. But love sings
lullabies. It soothes.
It applies balm.
Practice the vocabulary
of
love; unlearn the
language of hate and
contempt." - Baba-
"Silence
is
the
true spiritual
instruction. Once a
devotee came to visit
Bagawan
Sai Baba and said that
the great sages of the
past had travelled
extensively preaching
the truth and thus had
served the world at
large.
Similarly, if Bhagavan
were to travel thus it
would be beneficial to
many. Smilingly,
Bhagawan replied, that
His being settled in one
place
is also beneficial and
narrated the following
story:
“Brahmâ, the Lord of
Creation,
once lost interest in the work of
creation and thought of taking to a
life of tapas (penance). So,
out of his mind he created Sanaka,
Sanat Kumaru, Sanandana and
Sanatsujata, with the intention to
hand
over to them his job in the course
of time. They grew up and mastered
all of the branches of study. Brahmâ
then decided to hand over to
them his job and to retire. Sage
Nârada came to know of his
father’s intention. Since Nârada
knew that his
brothers were full of dispassion and
fit to be initiated into the path
of self-knowledge, he decided to
warn them beforehand of Brahmâ’s
intention. On hearing this, the four
brothers, who had no intention to
follow the path of action, left home
in search of a guru without
informing their father. They all
proceeded to Vaikuntha, the abode of
Vishnu. There they saw Lakshmi
sitting on Vishnu’s couch massaging
His
feet. On seeing this, they thought,
“How can this family man bound by
the intimate glance of his consort
render us any help in learning adhyatma-vidya
(knowledge of the self). Look at
the splendor of
this palace and this city! This is
enough. Let us seek the help of Lord
S'iva”.
Lord Siva, who was in Kailas with
his family, knew beforehand about
their coming and understood their
plight. He was sure that they would
be disappointed on seeing him with a
family, so taking pity on them, He
decided to impart spiritual
knowledge to them. The kind-hearted
Lord,
left Mount Kailas and taking the
youthful form of Dakshinamurti,
seated
Himself with chinmudra
(lotus position), under a banyan
tree on
the Northern side of Lake
Manasarovar, just on the way by
which these
disappointed devotees were returning
to their respective homes. When
they came and sat before Him, He
went into samadhi
(absorption
in the self). He was in perfect
repose. Silence prevailed. They saw
Him. The effect was immediate. They
fell into samadhi and
their doubts were
cleared." -Story
told to devotees
by Sri Sai Baba-
"Silence
is the true upadesa.
It is the perfect upadesa.
It is suited only for the most
advanced. Others are unable to draw
full inspiration from it. Therefore
they require words to explain the
truth. But truth is beyond words. It
does not admit or explain. It merely
indicates the truth through
self-discovery.” -Baba-
: on Time
"Time waste
is life waste." -Baba-
"Realise the
value of Time. Time is supremely
precious. It waits for no one.
Everyone has to submit himself to
Time. It is not subject to any one.
It is only when Time is utilized
properly through right actions that
the human can rise to the level of
the Divine." -Baba-
"Man's foremost
duty is to make the right use of
Time through the bodily vesture
given
to him. Man is bound by actions in
this phenomenal world. While the
Divine is all-pervasive, man is
failing to recognize it. He is
unable
to see the light that is within him.
The Reality which you are seeking
everywhere in the outside world is
within you." -Baba-
"Time is God.
All things happen according to
the dictates of Time; Both good and
bad depend on Time; Prosperity and
poverty likewise depend on Time;
Time is the determinant of all
things,
there is none who is not subject to
Time in this entire world; that's
the Truth."
"The poet Bhartruhari said:
"Salutations to the Lord of Time who
sets
everything in motion. Time is
all-powerful. One should not
waste." -Baba-
"Do not
attach too much significance to any
particular day. Every day is
Guru-vaar, not Thursday alone. Every
second is a new start and has to be
celebrated as an opportunity. The
New Year, beginning on a particular
day, is just a convention, a
creation of man's limiting mind,
separating God's infinity into tiny
sections." [Sathyam
Sivam Sundaram]
"Time is no
servant of the body; the body is
the servant of Time." [Ramakatha Rasavahini]
"Festivals
based
on the calendar, solar or lunar,
celebrating the apparent change of
movement or direction of the sun or
the moon have been devised, in
order to emphasize the need for
mind-control (the moon is the
presiding
deity of the mind) and
intelligence-regulation (the sun is
the
presiding deity of intelligence).
Placing disproportionate faith in
material wealth and objective
pleasures, man has lost the art of
tapping the resources of joy within
himself, within his own mind and
intelligence. One need not wait for
Uttarayana to arrive, for resolving
upon the process of mind-control and
intelligence-control. Every moment
is the right moment" [from Sathyam Sivam
Sundaram]
"Men may have
super abundance of food, clothing
and housing; but their hearts may be
dry and their spirits glooming.
Sense-control, self-confidence,
contentment, absence of hatred and
greed are far more precious
possessions than land, money or
houses. No effort is made today to
give
lessons of this discipline in the
educational institutions. It is
wrong
to lay the blame on want of time.
You are the obstructor, not the
time.
The monkey that cannot pull out its
clencled fist from the narrow neck
of the pot blames the pot or the
maker of the pot. But if only it
releases the hold on the peanuts it
has caught in that fist, it can
easily take its hand out. The fault
lies in itself. So too, man's greed
is the reason for this want of time.
That is why I often refer to it as
the monkey mind" -Baba-
"All things
happen according to the dictates of
Time;
Both good and bad depend on Time;
Prosperity and poverty likewise
depend on Time;
Time is the determinant of all
things,
There is none who is not subject to
Time in this entire world;
that's the Truth". -Baba-
"Life is like a
flight of steps towards the Godhead.
You have your foot on the first
step when you are born; each day is
a step that must be climbed; so, be
steady, watchful and earnest. Do not
count the steps ahead or exult
over the steps behind. One step at a
time and that well climbed, is
enough success to be satisfied with
and to give you encouragement for
the next one. Do not slide from the
step you have got up on. Every step
is a victory to be cherished; every
day wasted is a defeat to be
ashamed of. Slow and steady - let
that be your maxim! Adhere to a
regular routine. Maintain discipline
of time." -Baba-
"Be thankful to
the Lord that He gave you time, as
well as action to fill it
with. He gave you food, as
well as hunger to relish it.
But
that does not entitle you to engage
yourself in action
indiscriminately. Admit the
highest wisdom of the scriptures,
the
wisdom culled out of the crucible of
experience. The lotus born in
the slime and mud rises up through
the water and lifts its head high
above the water. It refuses to
get wet, though water is the
element, which gives its life!
Be like the Lotus!" -Baba-
"Love even
those
whom
you
consider
wicked.
In
fact,
there
is
nobody who is wicked
in this world. It is because of
delusion that you consider some as
good
and a few others wicked. Develop
noble feelings and follow the path
of
truth. Do not indulge in vain
gossip. Do not entertain bad
feelings or
use bad words. Do not hurt others.
Instead, sanctify your time by
chanting the Divine Name. There is
nothing sweeter in this world than
the Divine Name. The Divine Names
that you chant purifies the hearts
of
many. Use only sacred words and sing
the glory of God. In doing so, you
would have rendered a great help to
the whole world. Make proper use of
your time. Help everybody. When you
help others, you will certainly
achieve positive
results." -Baba-
: on Unity:
"Now, all
things
have gone up in value; man alone has
become cheap - he has become
cheaper than animals. He is
slaughtered in millions without any
qualm,
because of the terrific growth in
anger, hate and greed. He has
forgotten his unity with all men,
all being, and all worlds. The
completion of that unity alone can
establish world peace, social peace
and peace in the
individual." -Baba-
:
on
Vegetarianism/Vidhi:
"It is a
fact
that plants also have life like
animals. But animals are endowed
with
mind, and nervous systems too
while the plants do not possess
the same.
The animals cry and weep when
they are being killed. It is not
the case
with plants; as such, equating
killing of animals and
destruction of
plants is faulty logic. Further,
killing the animals and eating
their
flesh leads to the creeping or
dissemination of the animal
qualities
and behavior into man (meaning
that man acquires the beastly
qualities
by eating animal flesh). Thus
follows our acquiring the
beastly
qualities - tamasic nature - of
the buffalos or the sheep.
Hence, meat
eating should be discarded. Food
conditions the nature of the
mind.
Mind guides the thinking.
Thinking results in action.
Actions lead to
commensurate or matching results
and effects. This chain of
action
between the food we eat and the
results of our actions
highlights the
fact that meat eating leads to
beastly actions and the
concomitant evil
effects." - Sathya Sai, The
Avatar of Love, p. 132.
"There should
be some regulations with
regard to food. Many doctors
emphasize the value of proteins
and
recommend meat, eggs, etc. But
proteins got in this form serve
only to
build the body, but do
considerable harm to the mind.
Doctors are
primarily concerned with the
gross physical body. They pay
little
attention to the subtle form of
the mental makeup. Most of the
diseases
that are prevalent in the world
today are related to the mind.
Mental
illness seem to outnumber
physical ailments. The Vedanta
has declared that the mind is
the cause of man's bondage or
liberation. This means that the
mind has
to be used properly and turned
godwards. Equally the mind is
responsible for health or
sickness. In this context, food
is all
important. Proteins are present
in milk, curds and vegetables as
much
as in meat. If in the matter of
diet, the doctors give the right
prescription, diseases can be
averted." Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Discourse
on 07-02-1993.
[see also: Nonviolence
and
Vegetarian
Sharing:
The
Filognostic
Diet.]
"At times, to
get more protein and
strength you may be recommended
to consume animal foods like
fish and
poultry. Consuming
non-vegetarian food is not
required and you must
avoid it. A healthy balanced
diet of greens, milk, curds and
grains
will provide you with all
required nourishment. There is a
close
relationship between your food,
head and God. Animal foods will
let you
develop animal traits. Some may
ask, do not plants have life and
will
they not suffer when we cut and
cook them? All plants and
vegetables
have life, but lack the senses,
just like a patient who is given
anaesthesia during an operation
lacks the awareness and pain of
the
doctor’s cuts and stitches.
However animals have senses and
when we cut
them, they suffer intensely. To
avoid bad thoughts, do not take
excessive food, or that which is
earned by unrighteous means, or
non-vegetarian diet or food that
is not offered to God." - Divine
Discourse, 'My Dear Students',
Vol 2, Ch2.
Good health is not dependent on
good medicine. Good words, good
manners, good sight and good
thoughts – these are essential.
- Baba
: on Wisdom:
"Where there
is confidence, there is Love.
Where there is Love, there is Peace.
Where there is Peace, there is
Truth.
Where there is Truth, there is
Bliss.
Where there is Bliss, there is
God." -Baba-
"The end of
knowledge is wisdom,.
the end of wisdom is freedom,
the end of education is
character." -Baba-
:
on
the
World:
"The world is a
great teacher, a constant guide and
source of inspiration. That is the
reason why man is placed in the
world. Every bird, every animal,
every
tree, mountain and star and each
tiny worm has a lesson for man, if
he
has but the thirst to learn. These
make the world a veritable
University for man; it is but a
Gurukul (a school for spiritual
learning) where he is a pupil from
birth to death." -Baba-
"The Supreme
Lord is present inside and outside,
everywhere in the cosmos. Man today
looks only at the outside world like
any animal. To look inward is the
mark of the true human being.
Obsessed with the external and
losing the
internal vision, man has forfeited
his power of
discrimination." -Baba-
:
on
Youth:
"It
is
the youth and youth alone who
can set this world right. No
nation can
stand without its youth. Never
underestimate the capabilities
of young
people thinking that they are
inexperienced and immature. Only
the
youth are capable of protecting
this world; they are endowed
with
immense power. If they take a
firm resolve, they can achieve
anything!
When they realize their power,
they can emancipate nations. You
must
face all difficulties with
forbearance. Accept all trials
and
tribulations with love. Accept
both pleasure and pain with
love. Fill
your heart with love and not
with the poison of evil
qualities.
Everything is love. The very
word ‘love’ is suffused with
sweetness.
Treat each other with love,
converse with each other with
love; lead a
life full of love and enjoy
bliss." -Baba-
:
on
Yearning:
"Something
you have held,
seeking
something to
hold. Hold on
to it firm and
fast.
Something you
have asked
for, though
asking is not
needed. Well,
stay on till
the gift is
granted. Some
resolution you
have
entertained in
your mind
though you
have no need
to resolve.
Still, knock
at the door
until it opens
and your
resolution is
fulfilled.
Either I must
grant you the
thing you
crave for,
unable to
withstand your
yearning, or
you must
realize the
absurdity and
the audacity
and thus
conquer the
wrong
yearning."
-Baba-