Sai message for the day

[Guest guest]

Swami! Now it is clear that cittas'uddhi is lacking in us due to our

bad thoughts and bad deeds. We have certain weaknesses, lapses, bad

qualities and thoughts. As you have said unless we get over them,

cittas'uddhi cannot be attained. The mind gets polluted very often.

How is one to control bad qualities?

 

Sai Baba: It all depends upon your determination and your

understanding of the intensity and the gravity of the problem. It

needs an honest and sincere attempt on your part.

 

A small example. You are moving freely without any hesitation and

fear in this room. There lies a rope in one corner. But, if you come

to know that it is not a rope as you have been thinking it to be, but

a snake, would you move freely in that room any longer? You know that

it is dangerous to be anywhere near a poisonous snake. You know that

you will die if that snake bites you, and so you keep off from that

place. Similarly, when you are aware of the danger or harm you will

be put to, you will definitely stop your misdeeds.

 

You keep on holding the rope until you come to know that it is not a

rope but a snake. You drop it down immediately because of the fear of

death. So long as you think that these bad thoughts and evil deeds

make you happy, you continue to be in the same frame of mind. But,

when you know that they are dangerous, you will not hanker after

them. Therefore, first of all, you must identify your own bad

qualities and then give them up gradually one after another until you

are perfect.

 

It is also strange to notice that some seekers undergo rigorous

discipline for a set period of time during which they lead a perfect

life without any trace of a bad quality. But after that avowed period

of discipline they resume their previous bad habits with redoubled

vigour. This is a big mistake. That which holds you for some time is

artificial. Here withdrawal from bad habits is not due to the

realisation of the evil effects.

 

Here is an example. You see the ceiling fan rotating there. Now, if

you switch it off it will not stop rotating immediately. It stops

slowly. The three blades slowly stop moving. The fan does not stop

rotating immediately. Therefore, in full knowledge of the possible

harm and the evil effects, you should give up your bad habits slowly.