Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam - Jan 15th, 2006

[Guest guest]

The awareness of Swaswaroopa (one's real nature) is true knowledge and

devotion is the means to achieve this knowledge. Jnana implies freedom

from all thoughts. The Jnana Marga (the path of Knowledge) calls for

the control of thoughts by appropriate efforts. Whether one takes to

the Jnana Marga (the path of Knowledge) or the Bhakti Marga (the path

of Devotion), the resulting illumination is the same. For instance,

the light of the sun is reflected by the moon. The light from the sun

is warm and bright. When the same light is radiated by the moon, it is

cool and soothing. The same light is present in the sun and the moon;

the principle that illumines both the sun and the moon is the Spirit

(Atma-tatwa). The sun's light has been compared to Jnana and the

moon's light to Bhakti. Jnana is effulgent, while Bhakti (Devotion) is

blissful. Thus Bhakti and Jnana are the means to the same end.

-SAI BABA