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Thought for the Day
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As written at
Prasanthi Nilayam
Source: Radio Sai
Global Harmony
Thought for the Day Archive
July 2005
July 1, 2005
There is a tendency to
interpret renunciation as merely giving up worldly attachments.
Renunciation truly means attaining perfect equanimity. People may
criticize you or praise you, take them both with a sense of
equanimity. One may try to harm you while another may try to do you
a good turn; treat both situations with equanimity. In one business
venture, you may incur a loss while in another you may make a
profit; treat them both alike. Equanimity is the hallmark of yoga
(spiritual attainment).
July 2, 2005
It is not possible for
anyone to abstain from action. Action is the basis for our
existence. The purpose of man's life is to sanctify it through right
action. The world is a factory where man has to shape his destiny by
honest, untiring effort. One should take up this challenge and spend
one's allotted years and use the skill and the intelligence one is
endowed with in purposeful activity. This stream of action flows
through jnana (wisdom) and ultimately leads us to the highest stage
of realization.
July 3, 2005
Do you think I would
confront you with pain were there not a reason for it? Open your
heart to pain as you do now to pleasure, for it is My will, wrought
by Me for your own good. Welcome it as a challenge. Do not turn away
from it. Turn within and derive the strength to bear it and benefit
from it. It is all a part of My plan to drive you, by the pangs of
unfulfilled need, to listen to My voice, which when heard dissolves
the ego and the mind with it.
July 4, 2005
Faith can come only by
association with the godly, by studying the lives and experiences of
godly persons. An individual who has faith in God must put his faith
into practice. By believing in God and yet ignoring God's utterances
and commands, you are contradicting yourselves. Faith is not a cloak
to be worn outside for deceiving others. Devotion and prayer should
not be for the sole purpose of obtaining something or fulfilling
some desire. It should be for the sake of the Atma (the inner
divinity) and for the sake of the bliss of becoming one with the
Lord.
July 5, 2005
The true secret of
enjoyment lies in sacrifice. Sacrifice has also been declared to be
the only means of achieving immortality. Giving up what is taken in
is a law of life. It applies to breathing, food and other things.
Likewise, the wealth which one acquires should also be given back to
society. Wealth includes not only riches, but every other form of
acquisition including knowledge, scholarship, and skills of various
kinds. The knowledge you have acquired through education should be
imparted to others. It is by such sharing that your education gets
enriched and purposeful. If you do not impart the knowledge you
possess, it becomes useless. This means that the more you give, the
more you grow.
July 6, 2005
When clouds gather in
the high skies, they are usually accompanied by lightning. In the
same manner, wherever there is education, it should be accompanied
by wisdom. Since good qualities like sacrifice, forbearance, truth
and love have been somewhat pushed to the background, the society is
suffering from various ills. It is the sacred objective of education
to rid the minds and hearts of people of all evil.
July 7, 2005
Man is not a mere
combination of the physical, the mental and the intellectual, but
also the spiritual. He is enveloped in five sheaths: the Annamaya
Kosa (gross body), the Pranamaya Kosa (the sheath of life force),
the Manomaya Kosa (sheath of the mind), Vigyanamaya Kosa (the sheath
of the intelligence) and the Anandamaya Kosa (the blissful sheath of
the spirit). The Upanishads (ancient scriptures) state that each of
these Kosas (sheaths) are sacred and suffused with Divinity.
July 8, 2005
Man can be described
as a conglomeration of thoughts and ideas. Every little thought
becomes an integral part of one's life. The kind of feelings one has
determines one's future. Therefore, one must install sacred ideas in
one's heart. The fostering of pure thoughts will promote the spirit
of selfless service in our hearts. Nishkama Karma (selfless service)
uproots the bestiality in man and confers divinity on him.
July 9, 2005
The sun sheds its
light equally and impartially on all - men and animals, birds and
beasts, mountains and valleys. But the sun’s image is reflected only
in the placid surface of clear water. Likewise, the sacred vision of
Paramatma (God) is revealed only in an unperturbed and tranquil mind
in which all thought waves have subsided. A pure and holy heart will
mirror the glory of Paramatma, while a man with a wavering mind can
never experience divinity.
July 10, 2005
'Deha', the physical
body, is composed of the five primordial elements of earth, air,
water, fire and ether. Sooner or later, the Deha will perish. But,
the 'Dehi' or the indweller, the Atma (Self), has neither birth nor
death. It is indestructible, imperishable and immortal. And this
Dehi is one with Brahman (Godhead). Atma and Brahman are essentially
one. The identification of the Atma with Brahman is the final goal
of spirituality.
July 11, 2005
Sacrifice means giving
up kama (desires), krodha (anger) and lobha (greed). Man generally
identifies himself with the Anatma (non-Self) without realizing his
true nature. The reflection of the sky in a pot of water disappears
the moment you pour out the water. Likewise, when you recognise the
transient nature of all that is non-Self and empty yourself of
desires, you get closer to the Atma. Unless you sacrifice desire,
anger and greed, you cannot attain divinity.
July 12, 2005
The joy which you seek
and the self-realization which you aspire for, are both within
yourself. They cannot be found in the external world. It is as
foolish as a person who begs for food on the street, even though
there are sweets and other delicacies in his own house. You think
that this world and its objects confer happiness on you. This is
merely an illusion created by your mind. It is only when you follow
the intellect that you will be able to enjoy Atmananda (the bliss of
the Self). True happiness lies within you.
July 13, 2005
The mind is called
'Manas' because it is continually engaged in the process of 'Manana'
or cogitation. Very often, the mind is led astray by conflicting
impulses that are generated in it. The mind travels faster than the
wind. Just as we apply brakes to halt a fast-moving vehicle, we have
to curb the flow of our thoughts. The fickle nature of the mind acts
as an impediment to man’s spiritual progress. Hence, it is
imperative that every spiritual aspirant gains control over his mind
if he yearns to immerse himself in the bliss that is his inner self.
July 14, 2005
There are three states
relating to the mind: shoonyathwa (emptiness), anekagrata
(simultaneous pulls of multiple thoughts) and ekagrata
(one-pointedness). These three states have their origin in the three
gunas (inherent tendencies) in man. While Thamo Guna (indolence)
brings about dullness in the mind, Rajo Guna (the quality of
passion) provokes the mind into wandering hither and thither. Sathwa
Guna (the quality that promotes the sacred aspects of human life)
stills the mind into one-pointed contemplation. Thus, it is only
those who cultivate Sathwa Guna that can undertake meditation with
ease.
July 15, 2005
When you build a
house, you build doors as well. These doors are meant to facilitate
easy entry and departure of friends and relatives. Only those who
are authorised to enter are allowed through these doors. The door is
not meant for dogs and donkeys to come into the house. Similarly
through the doors of the senses, we should usher in only sacred
thoughts, feelings and ideas. The heart is the abode of God. The
Lord cannot be enthroned in a heart fouled by evil thoughts, ideas
and feelings. We should not allow either animal or demoniac
qualities to enter into that sacred abode of Divinity.
July 16, 2005
Lord Krishna declared
in the Bhagavad Gita - "Mamaivamso Jeevaloke Jeevabhuta Sanathanah"
(all beings are an eternal part of My Self). There is a spark of
divinity in the heart of everyone. It is because of Bhrama
(delusion) that man is unable to realize his divine nature. Delusion
causes evil feelings to arise in the heart. Therefore, man should
make efforts to overcome this delusion and realize that God is
always with him, in him, around him, above him and below him.
July 17, 2005
One should not strive
for physical strength and happiness alone. One should strive hard
for control of the mind. One who becomes a slave to his mind is
bound to become weak, however powerful he may be. So, you should
make the mind your slave. The power of the mind is matchless. It is
from the mind that the most precious virtues originate. If wealth is
lost, it can be earned back. If health is lost, it can be restored.
But, if human values are lost, life becomes worthless. Only when we
develop noble thoughts and follow the path of truth in our daily
life will human values blossom in us and protect us under all
circumstances.
July 18, 2005
Like the moon that
illumines the night, the sun that illumines the day, and Dharma that
illumines the three worlds, a good son brings glory on his entire
lineage. Your foremost duty is to revere your parents. A good son
sets an example by his conduct. A good son is one who reveres and
serves his parents, who honours his preceptor, who is humble and
respectful towards elders and who earns a good name by his service
to society. Without reverence for these three, all your other
achievements in life will be worthless. The mother, the father and
the preceptor represent the Divine Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and
Maheshwara respectively. But above all of them is the one God who is
in all beings. Develop love for God and thereby show your reverence
for all.
July 19, 2005
To achieve the
attitude of surrender and dedication, you must have faith in God.
This world is His play; it is not an empty dream that has no
purpose. It is the means by which one can discover God; see Him in
the beauty, the grandeur, the order and the majesty of Nature. These
are but a few facets of His glory and splendour. Upasana (adoration
of God) leads to the knowledge that He is all.
July 20, 2005
In this Iron Age, when
darkness is enveloping the mind of man, any little lamp that can
light the path is most welcome. That is why I advise you to resort
to Sathkarma, Sadaachaara and Sathpravarthana (good deeds, good
conduct and good behaviour), so that you may be established in the
constant presence of the Lord. You must also strive to practise
Shravana (listening to ennobling and elevating words), Manana
(ruminating on those teachings) and Nidhidhyaasana (putting into
practise the teachings and experience the fruits thereof).
July 21, 2005
Today is celebrated as
Guru Poornima or Vyasa Poornima, the full moon day dedicated to Sage
Vyasa, who codified the Vedas and presented them to the world on a
full moon day. This is the day when people should seek to make their
minds as pure and bright as the full moon. You can see God only
through the Jnaana-chakshu (eye of wisdom). Realize God as the
indweller of your heart and accept Him as your Guru (preceptor).
There is no greater meditation than constant remembrance of God at
all places and at all times. When you practise this, you will lack
nothing and will be ever blissful.
July 22, 2005
There are two aspects
to education: One involves collating facts about the external world
and sharing them with students. The other is Educare. Educare
involves gaining in-depth understanding of the knowledge that
springs from within and imparting it to students. But the modern
system of education gives the students only knowledge about the
external world. It is culture or refinement that can develop a good
personality and not this type of education. So, both education and
culture are important.
July 23, 2005
Life is the chance
afforded to man to recover the peace and the joy that he had lost
when he was last here. If he recovers them now, he need not come
again. But, he loses them through ignorance of their value and the
means of retaining them. If only he would remain in the
consciousness of Shivoham (the belief that "I am Shiva"), "I am
immortal; I am the source and spring of Bliss", he would be
supremely contented. But, instead of this correct evaluation of
himself, this recognition of his innate reality, man goes about
weeping at his helplessness, inadequacies, poverty and evanescence.
This is the tragic fate from which man has to be rescued.
July 24, 2005
The study of the Vedas
is the highest type of learning, since it leads to the conquest of
death, while all other studies deal with the means of deriving
little pleasures of the world. The Vedas show the path to the realms
of eternal bliss, where there is neither birth nor death. People
strive to know all about the world, but they seldom try to know even
an iota of their own inner realms.
July 25, 2005
"Kaarunyam paramam
thapah" (Compassion towards all beings is the highest spiritual
discipline). Man is the crown of creation; he is the highest among
living beings. Therefore, he bears a great responsibility. He has to
love other living beings, serve them and save them, for they are his
kith and kin, and they too have the Divine Principle as their core.
But, man is proving himself worse than animals due to
self-centeredness, conceit, envy and anger. Though man is endowed
with the virtues of compassion, charity, sympathy, fortitude and
joy, he has given up these virtues and become inhuman in conduct and
behaviour.
July 26, 2005
There are three levels
of truth: Nijam (fact), Sathyam (truth) and Ritam (absolute truth).
To speak according to what one has seen is to merely state a fact.
Suppose I see you wearing a white dress and say "you are wearing a
white dress", this becomes a statement of a fact. Later, at home,
you may wear a blue dress. Then what I had said earlier will not
hold good anymore. Thus, a fact is subject to change. Truth on the
other hand does not change with time. A person may change any number
of dresses. But, the person, as such, remains the same. Thus, truth
is the same at all times. Ritam, however, relates to the Atma (self)
which is changeless and eternal, unlike the body or mind that are
subject to change. It transcends both good and evil. It is described
as attributeless, pure, eternal, permanent and unsullied.
July 27, 2005
Vice breeds disease.
Bad thoughts and habits, bad company and bad food are the main cause
of ill-health. Arogya (good health) and Ananda (happiness) go hand
in hand. When the mind is happy, the body too is free of disease.
Indulging in evil habits is the chief cause of sickness, physical as
well as mental. Greed affects the mind; disappointment makes man
depressed. Man can justify his existence only by the cultivation of
virtues. Only then does he become a worthy candidate for Godhood.
July 28, 2005
There is at the basis
of everything, a power that is continuously at work. It is the Will
of the Divine that maintains the balance in the universe. You may
ask that if God is controlling everything, then what is the need for
human effort? God is like the electric current. To obtain light from
it, you need a bulb and a wire. Sathya (Truth) is the current,
Dharma (Righteousness) is the wire, Shanti (Peace) is the bulb and
Prema (Love) is the light.
July 29, 2005
The philosophers of
all lands and all times have sought to discover the truth about God,
the objective world and man. Maya is the Will that causes all the
three. It is a clear, flawless mirror. When Sathwa-guna (purity and
goodness) is reflected in that mirror, God results. When Rajo-guna
(passion and restlessness) is reflected, the jeeva or the
individualized Self results. It is ever anxious to grow, to grab, to
survive and to be secure. When Thamo-guna (inertness and inactivity)
is reflected, matter or the objective world is the result. All the
three are basically Divine, but appear diifferent because of the
interplay of the Gunas.
July 30, 2005
Let the petty wishes
for which you now approach God be realised or not; let the plans for
promotion and progress which you place before God be fulfilled or
not; they are not so important after all. The primary aim should be
to become masters of yourselves, to hold intimate and constant
communion with the Divine that is in you as well as in the universe
of which you are a part. Welcome sorrows and disappointments for
they toughen you and test your fortitude.
July 31, 2005
Man's character gets
transformed into good or bad depending on his company. Noble company
bestows noble feelings and bad company gives rise to evil traits.
Your speech and conduct are based on your feelings. You deserve to
be called a human being only when you develop good feelings. Form
alone does not constitute a human being. A true human being is one
who embodies good habits, helps ever and hurts never. You should not
merely be an Aakara Manava (human in form); you should become an
Aachara Manava (human in conduct). Speak good, see good, do good and
be good. Divinity will manifest in you only when your conduct is
good.
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