Sri Sathya Sai Baba quoted in Philippine Information Agency Press Release 02-11-05

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba quoted in Philippine Information Agency Press Release 02-11-05

 

 

 

 

Commentary: Let the long weekend be moments of reflection and contemplation

Tacloban City (2 November) -- As the nation goes on a long holiday, every

Filipino should take the opportunity to have some time for reflection and

contemplation. The long week end should be an undeclared period of ceasefire-

from political squabbling, from continuous finger-pointing, from the deafening

debates and noise that tend to divide the nation and disturb those who are

trying to focus their efforts for the development of the nation, those who are

paying homage to their dead and even those who have long been in the grave.

Every Filipino must have a moment of silence. As Sri Sathya Sai Baba, a famous

Indian Spiritual leader once said: "Be silent yourself - that will induce

silent on others." It is only in silence that we will be able to hear the

deeper vibration of the world around us.

If only all of us will carry with an atmosphere of contemplation, wherever and

whoever we happen to be, oppositionists, pro-administration, farmers or

professionals, our mental capacity will be increased. With the increase of our

mental capacity, there will be an increase in our discrimination, too. The

Indian Spiritual leader believed that consequently, one will give up individual

discrimination and begin to consider the good of the world at large rather than

his own individual welfare.

It is not surprising that some fanatical oppositionists are rejecting the call

for a government of national unity. The political noise they have been creating

has made them deaf, and as others described, arrogant and selfish, to the

appeals for reconciliation. What is worse is they influence the public to be as

negative as them. If anger be the basis of our political activities, the

excitement tends to become an end in itself, at the expense of the goals to be

achieved. Side issues then assume an exaggerated importance, and all gravity of

thought and action is lost. Such excitement is not an exercise of strength, but

a display of weakness. We have been too noisy as a people, we have forgotten to

listen to our hearts. We have been so used to looking at the negative side of

things, we have forgotten to look within. For all we know, the secret is within

us. Each of us is here for a brief sojourn. For what purpose, we know not,

although we sense it. With deep reflection and contemplation we will know from

daily life that we exist for other people. For deep inside us, we know that we

all wish the best for the country. We know that in order to attain our goals as

nation and people, we have to make sacrifices. We know that it is only through

unity and reconciliation, that peace and development will be attained. We know

that most of the time, it is our pride, our self-interest, our prejudices, that

make us violate the rule of law and justice and hinder the peace, unity and

development that we are all longing for. It is hoped that the long week-end, so

declared for us to be able to pay homage to our love ones who have gone before

us, will also give us time to find wisdom and peace within our selves. As

Confucius said: "By three methods, we may learn wisdom: first by Reflection,

which is the noblest; second, by imitation, which is the easiest; and third, by

experience, which is the bitterest." (PIA 8)

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news.asp?fi=p051102.htm&no=2