SaiRam - Ceiling on desires

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SAIRAM ALL

 

THIS A VERY LITTLE AND MOST VALUABLE DISCOURSE BY

BABA.I THING THIS IS THE MOST IMP ASPECT OF OUR LIFE

 

FROM LITU

 

 

Ceiling on desires

Discourse by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on January

1983

MEMBERS appear to be confused about the true meaning

of this programme of "Ceiling on Desires" decided on

at the Tenth All India Conference of Sathya Sai

Organisations. There are four components in the term

"Ceiling on Desires." They are, respectively; curb on

excessive talk, curb on excessive desires and

expenditure, control of consumption of food, check on

waste of energy. Man needs some essential commodities

for his sustenance and he should not aspire for more.

We can learn a lesson in this respect from Nature.

Only if air is available in sufficient quantity will

it be comfortable and good. If it is excessive and

there is a gale you will feel uncomfortable. When you

are thirsty; you can consume only a limited quantity

of water. You can't consume the entire water of the

Ganga! We take only as much as is needed for the

sustenance of the body.

 

Doctors know that the body temperature is normally

98.4. If this goes up to 99 they say fever has set in

due to some disorder in the body. We inhale and exhale

at a normal rate. If there is a slight increase or

decrease in the rate it indicates disorder in the

body. Changes in the pulse rate or blood pressure also

indicate disorder. So you find that if you cross the

limits even to a little extent it is dangerous or

harmful to the body. There is a limit for everything

to function in a normal way. When your eyes happen to

see a flash of lightning or a flash light while taking

photographs, they automatically close because they

can't withstand such high illumination. Ear drums also

cannot tolerate hearing beyond a certain volume and we

close our ears or keep cotton inside the ears. From

these we see that our life is a limited company!

 

Misuse of money is a great evil

 

Similarly our desires also should be limited. Women

are usually desirous of adding to their wardrobe any

number of sarees when they go to a shop or an

exhibition. You should have a reasonable number of

sarees, but not a huge collection for pomp or show.

Misuse of money is a great evil. Even men will have to

do their own bit in controlling the expenditure on

unwanted and unnecessary things. Money is

Dhaivaswaroopam (embodiment of Divinity). When you

talk of wealth you should be careful to avoid

avaricious accumulation and extravagant expenditure.

Even in the preparation of food, you should be careful

in avoiding wastage. We are only doing a disservice by

consuming more food than what is necessary for the

body.

 

Thirdly, you should be careful about ' time' , which

is the yardstick of life. Seconds become hours, hours

become years, years make yugas (ages) and so on. You

should not waste this most valuable 'time'. Time lost

in wasteful pursuits can' t be got back by any means.

All our activities should be planned for utilising the

available time to maximum advantage. So, we should not

waste food, money, time and energy. Even in purchase

of garlands, you need not waste money. What God wants

is the flower of your heart that is filled with

humility and devotion. Eight types of flowers can be

offered to God, viz, (1) Ahimsa (Non-violence), (2)

Indhriya Nigraha (Control of senses), (3) Sarvabhootha

Dhaya (Compassion towards all beings), (4) Sathyam

(Truth), (5) Dhyaanam (Meditation), (6) Shaanthi

(Peace), (7) Vinaya (Humility), (8) Bhakthi

(Devotion).

 

God appreciates only your motive

 

I feel very much concerned about the excessive money

that is spent y the Trust and Samithi on the expensive

huge garlands offered to Me on every occasion and also

the use of flowers for decorating the path. No doubt

you are doing this as an expression of your Aanandha

(Divine bliss). But I won' t call this Bhakthi

(devotion), though you may not own this. We should

realise our defects and rectify them. You may show

your affection y just handing over one flower and

spend the money wasted on garlands for helping the

poor people in distress.

 

People may think that Baba will not like it if flower

paths are not provided and huge garlands are not

offered. You must understand that God appreciates only

your motive and not the external things. By indulging

in such exhibitionism, you will only spoil the name of

the organisation. As a member of Sathya Sai

Organisation you should have no sense of ego or pride.

As I have often said you should have your "Hands in

society and heads in the forest". This should be your

guiding principle. What little you do you must do with

a good and pure heart.

 

In the Bhagavathgeetha, Krishna has referred to

"Pathram, Phalam, Pushpam, Thoyam" (that is, leaf,

fruit, flower or water) that can be offered to God. I

am pleased with any of these provided it is offered

with sincere devotion. What is 'pathram'? It is not

the ' leaf' that you see around you. The inner meaning

is that your body itself is the leaf. Flower is not

the one in the plants but it is the flower of your

heart, "Hridhaya Pushpam". 'Phalam' is not the

ordinary fruit but 'Manophalam' (the fruit of your

mind). 'Thoyam' means water but what is referred to

here is not the water from the river or tap. It refers

to the tears of joy welling up within you from a

sincere

and prayerful heart.

 

Transform yourselves into better individuals

 

Moreover you should not only practise yourself but

teach others also about this ceiling on desires.

Though Naaraayana is in everyone, the one in the poor

people is referred to as "Dharidhra Naaraayana". When

this Naaraayana begs for food, you refuse to give him

food while you offer food to another person who is

already well-fed. You place before God' s pictures a

lot of food of rich variety as 'Naivedhyam'

(offering). You do this because you know very well

that this is coming back to you. So, here too it is

'Swaartham' (self-interest) and not 'Thyaagam'

(sacrifice) The amrithathwa (immortality) or Moksha

(Liberation) will come out of thyaagam.

 

We have Seva Dhal, Bhajan Mandalis, and other Wings.

It is a good sign that more and more youngsters are

coming forward to join the Seva Dhal and take part in

service activities. The participation of youth is

necessary for the welfare of the world. We should

rejoice when they turn over a new leaf in their life.

There is a common saying that you should not rejoice

and distribute sweets etc. when a child is born, but

you should do so only when the son grows up and earns

a good name as a 'Sathputhra' (good son) . You can't

please Me just y joining as a member of the

organisation. I shall wait for the day when you turn

over a new leaf and transform yourselves into better

individuals. You should become 'Guna-sheelas' (persons

of sterling character and good qualities).

 

It is the code of conduct which is responsible for the

organisation moving forward growing from strength to

strength. The office-bearers should exercise maximum

care to see that the code of conduct is adhered to and

guide others also in the fight path. When a cook in a

house works with integrity the master on his own will

entrust him with the keys of the house. Similarly, God

also will appreciate only men with integrity. The

desire to please God should be the fundamental motive.

 

 

Discourse given by Bjagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba to

active workers of the

Sri Sathya Sai Organisations, Tamil Nadu at

Abbotsbury, Madras, 19 January 1983