Thought for the Day Archive for September 2005

October 12, 2005

Thought for the Day - September 2005As written at Prasanthi Nilayam

http://www.saibabalinks.org/tftd/2005/september.htm

Thought for the Day Archive since January 2003

Source: Radio Sai Global Harmony

September 2005

September 1, 2004

No one can describe the nature of Divine love. It is beyond the reach of even

the best of poets. When one is still neck-deep in the water, one may be able to

say a few words. The one who is completely immersed in the waters of Divine Love

will be unable to speak anything about his experience. Those who speak about God

in the world do so only from a superficial experience, but those who are wholly

saturated with God's love will find no words to describe their bliss. That is

why the Vedas declare that the Divine is beyond the reach of the mind and

speech.

September 2, 2004

Some people entertain some newfangled ideas about Yoga (spiritual union), Jnana

(spiritual wisdom) and Sanyasa (renunciation). What is true Yoga? Yoga is

control of the vagaries of the mind. It is control of the senses. One should

treat alike both praise and censure, pleasure and pain. This kind of

self-restraint is Yoga. What is Jnana? Advaita Darshanam Jnaanam (The Vision of

the One without a second is the supreme knowledge). To recognise the

Ekatma-bhaava (the feeling that the same Atma dwells in all beings) is Jnana.

True Sanyasa is in the transformation of one's qualities and not in the change

of garb. The mind must change, not the apparel. A true Sanyaasi (renunciant) is

one who has attained mastery over all his senses and has given up all desires.

He is a Sanyaasi who seeks the feet of the Lord, giving up all attachments to

the body, which is subject to disease and decay. He must treat life and death,

pleasure and pain alike

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September 3, 2004

Health is the essential prerequisite for success in all aspects of life, and for

realizing the four ideals that guide human life - moral living, prosperity,

fulfilling beneficial desires and liberation from grief. Man seeks to live

happily and peacefully, but happiness and peace are not won from worldly

activities. The body that yearns to be healthy and secure is subject to

disease, decay and death. However, the Indweller, the Self, within the body is

not born nor does it die. The body is the temple of God. Hence, it is the duty

of man to keep the temple in good condition. September 4, 2004

Which is the happiest day in one's life? All are happy days to a person of Jnana

(true knowledge). Happiness is a conscious internal experience which is an

effect of the extinction of all mental and physical desires. The lesser the

desires, the greater is the happiness. Therefore, perfect happiness consists in

the merger of all desires in the Absolute Being. The mind has no independent

identity of its own. It is a conglomeration of the desires that sprout from the

impulses. A cloth is essentially a bundle of threads. Threads are basically spun

from cotton. Similarly, desires arise from basic impulses, and the mind is

constituted of these desires. Just as a piece of cloth disintegrates if threads

in it are pulled apart, the mind too can be destroyed by the eradication of

desires. September 5, 2004

Life is an experience meant to train the individual for a higher, deeper and

more expanded state of existence through the experience of the results of one's

actions. The aim of life is the attainment of complete perfection by merging in

the Absolute. It is dedication to the Lord that sanctifies all activities. He

is the raison d'etre for all activity; He is the prompter, the executor, the

giver of the required strength and skill, and the enjoyer of the fruits

thereof. So, dedication must come naturally to you, for, all is His and nothing

yours! Your duty is to believe that He is the impeller of your activities, and

draw strength from that belief. Just as a bandage is necessary to protect the

wound until it heals and new skin grows, so too, until reality is realized,

faith, company of the pious and holy thoughts must be applied to the

ego-affected mind. September 6, 2004

Devotion should not be confined to the four walls of the shrine-room, or the few

minutes you perform Dhyana (meditation); it is a fulltime Sadhana (spiritual

discipline). Your devotion has to be expressed as worship of everyone as living

embodiments of Divinity. See God in every one, even in persons whom you regard

as your enemies. Practise this broad, all-embracing Love. How can you derive

happiness merely by showing love and reverence to a stone idol that does not

respond or reflect your feelings? Living beings will return appreciation and

gratitude and wish you well. You can see joy glowing in their faces. That will

confer satisfaction on you. If you cannot teach yourself to love your

fellowmen, how can you follow the path of dedication to God? September 7, 2004

- Ganesh Chaturthi

An elephant normally has two tusks. The mind too frequently comes up with two

alternatives: the good and the bad, the excellent and the expedient, the fact

and the fantasy that lures it away. However, in order to achieve anything, the

mind must become single-pointed. The elephant head of Lord Ganesha, therefore

has one tusk only, and hence Ganesha is called 'Ekadantha' meaning the

single-tusked one, to remind everyone that one must possess single-pointedness

of the mind. September 8, 2004

Dharma and Jnana (right conduct and spiritual wisdom) are two eyes given to man

to discover his Divinity. Dharma indicates the right path which every

individual, group or society should follow. Dharma destroys the one who

violates it, and protects the one who protects it. The scriptures have

declared, "Where there is Dharma, there is Victory". There is no Dharma greater

than Truth. The edifice of Dharma is erected on the foundation of Truth. Nyaya

(justice) is an essential attribute of Dharma. An individual, society or nation

shines with glory only when justice is adhered to. Just as one acquires wealth

by the pursuit of one's profession, one must acquire merit and Divine Grace by

adhering to Neethi (morality) and Dharma. September 9, 2004

Man has made tremendous progress in science and technology. But, in the field of

spirituality, he is still unable to rid himself of narrow cynicism, limited

outlook, and the demonic hold of selfishness, pride, envy and other evil

traits. When we examine the basic cause for this state of affairs, we discover

that it is the consequence of egoism that has struck deep roots in the heart of

man. It has reduced man to the status of a puppet. It pollutes his thoughts,

words and deeds. It directs him to gather and hoard material riches. It does

not allow the Atma (Self) to shine forth. When the veil of egoism is set aside,

the Atma is revealed, Jnana (wisdom) dawns and Ananda (Bliss) results. September

10, 2004

We generally consider Pratyaksha Pramaana (proof of direct perception) as the

most important type of evidence. We are able to see our body and all its parts;

however, our mind is not visible. We are unable to comprehend the Atma (spirit).

Anumaana or inference is another form of proof. We see smoke on the top of a

distant hill. We infer from the smoke that there must be a fire on that hill.

Although we see only the smoke, we infer that there is fire. To infer the

existence of the 'unseen' from the presence of what is 'seen' is Anumaana

Pramaana (inferential proof). But, these methods of determining facts are

applicable only to the external universe. For determining the Divine Principle,

we must depend only on the Shabdha Pramaana of the Vedas. We believe in the

existence of the Atma on the strength of the statements made by the great sages

who have had the experience of it and who have conveyed it through their

teachings. When the Divine is described as One

without attributes, eternal, pure, free and self-effulgent, this description

will not make the Brahman (God) visible to us. It is only when the state of

Brahman is realised by us that its existence becomes valid.

September 11, 2004

All subjects in the universe have three characteristics, which are derived from

the Divine. These are Asthi, Bhaathi and Priyam. These qualities are also

otherwise represented by the terms Sath, Chith and Ananda - Being, Awareness

and Bliss. The existence of an object is derived from 'Asthi'. What it is and

how it appears to our eyes, is known from 'Bhaathi'. That it is a useful or

enjoyable object is derived from the quality of 'Priyam'. While these three are

fundamental qualities, the forms and names may change. For instance, a silver

plate is capable of being converted to some other article. Silver is

fundamental; the value of the article is dependent not on the form or the name

of the article, but on the silver in the article. September 12, 2004

Sathya or Truth is realized by the Sadhana (discipline) of the tongue. Dharma

(righteous living) is realized by the Sadhana of the individual through right

conduct in relation to the society. Man can attain Shanti (equanimity) by

discipline of the mind. Prema (love) is beyond thought, word and deed. To

consider it as a manner of speech, an attitude of mind or as physical trait is

to demean it. Love is God. God is Love. The Divine Love is not easily

comprehensible. Love has no trace of selfishness; it is not led by ulterior

motives.

September 13, 2004

Prema (Love) should be like a mariner's compass. Wherever the compass may be

placed, the needle will point only to the north. Likewise, man's love, in all

circumstances, should be directed towards God. That alone is true love. It

should be unaffected by pleasure or pain. It makes no difference between 'mine'

and 'thine'. Love has to be acquired only through love and not by any other

means whatsoever. September 14, 2004

The Upanishads declare: "Raso vai Sah" (God is the essence). This means that God

is present in subtle form everywhere, like sugar in sugarcane and butter in

milk. Although it is difficult to have a direct perception of God, His presence

can be experienced in many ways. The sweetness in sugar, the sourness in lime

fruit, the bitterness of the margosa leaf, all testify to the presence of the

Divine. When you see a mountain, waterfall or forest, you feel happy. All these

proclaim the presence of the Divine. Light shines, the stars twinkle, the sun

blazes, the planets revolve in their orbits. All these phenomena are

manifestations of the Divine. By understanding the nature of flame, you can

understand the nature of fire. By examining a drop of water, you come to know

the nature of the Ganges. Likewise by understanding Maanavathvam (the true

nature of humanness), you can understand Daivathvam (Divinity). September 15,

2004

The Bhagavad Gita does not intend that you should pluck a leaf or a flower or a

fruit from some plant or tree and place it before God. Nor does it ask you to

bring water from a well or a river or a roadside tap. The Leaf that you have to

offer is your own body, which like the leaf, sprouts green, fades, and finally

falls off from the branch. The Flower is the heart freed from the pests of

lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, hate, etc. The Fruit is the mind, the

consequence of its yearnings, which have to be dedicated to God. The Water is

the stream of tears that flow from the eyes when one is in ecstatic bliss at

the contemplation of God's glory. Offering these four is the real act of

Sharanaagathi (total surrender). September 16, 2004

God is the embodiment of Love. Love is His nature. Just as God manifests His

love in the world, everyone should manifest his love. Prema (Love) has been

described as beyond speech and mind; it is said to be Anirvachaneeyam

(indescribable). This love cannot be got through scholarship, wealth, or

physical powers. God, who is the embodiment of love, can be attained only

through love, just as the effulgent Sun can be seen only through its own light.

There is nothing more precious in this world than Divine love. God is

Gunaatheetha (beyond all attributes). Hence, His love also is beyond

attributes. But, human love governed by Gunas (attributes) results in

attachment and aversion. Love should not be based on expectations of reward or

return. Love based on such expectations makes it a business deal. Love is not

an article of commerce. It is not like a lending a loan and getting it back. It

is a spontaneous offering. Pure love of this kind can emanate only from a pure

heart. September 17, 2004

The Prakrithi (Creation) we see around us cannot give us happiness. It is

changing from moment to moment. 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 creation.

And so also the waking state experiences! What we see is nothing but our own

creation. The experience of the world is but a projection of our mind and the

reflection of our own inner thoughts. As is the thought, so the vision. The

colour of the 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 (love), with a loving heart, the whole

creation will appear to you as a reflection of Prema. September 18, 2004

Mankind has progressed much in exploiting the material resources of the earth in

order to promote the standard of life. But, he has not learnt the way to inner

peace and contentment. Envy and greed have fouled the relations between persons

and nations, suppressing the awareness of the Unity that underlies all Creation.

The main cause of this calamitous situation is rank egoism; each one tries to

grab for himself whatever adds to his power and comfort. The mind has desires

as its warp and woof. When desires are ego-oriented, time and effort are

wasted; duty is neglected; the body and its skills are misused. In order to

restore peace to the individual and in society, the mind has to be purged of

its attachment to the self.

September 19, 2004

Believe firmly that the body is the residence of God, that the food you eat is

the offering you make to your deity; that bathing is the ceremonial bathing of

the Divine Spirit in you; the ground you walk upon is His domain; the joy you

derive is His gift; the grief you experience is His lesson that you tread the

path more carefully. Remember Him at all times; many people think of God only

when grief overtakes them; of course, it is good to do so; it is better than

seeking the help of those who are also equally liable to grief. But, it is

infinitely better to think of God in grief and in joy, in peace and strife. The

proof of rain is in the wetness of the ground; the proof of Bhakthi (devotion)

is in the Shanti (equanimity) the bhaktha (devotee) has, Shanthi which protects

him against the onslaughts of success and failure, fame and dishonour, gain and

losself. September 20, 2004

Prema (Love) is what the individual and the nation must cultivate for progress.

Love must transform all relationships - social, economic, educational,

professional, family, religious and others. The father must love the child a

little more intensely, the mother must spread more love, children must respect

the servants. The sense of equality and the understanding that everyone is the

repository of the divine essence must transmute social and individual

behaviour. What the world needs today is the redeeming and unifying force of

love - love which continually expands and embraces more and more people. By

giving up narrow ideas regarding one's religion, nation or caste, by developing

a broad outlook and cultivating the company of the good, you can elevate your

1ife and make it meaningful and satisfying. September 21, 2004