Imprints

Seeking traces of the mind is like looking for footprints of birds flying in the sky.

They cannot be found, though intangible karmic imprints exist.

Likewise, when we pass through life,

may we leave no unnecessary traces,

no trail of mental or physical destruction;

only good karmic imprints.

(The Daily Enlightenment)

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba

"The tree that springs from the earth becomes earth again,

The creation that springs from the Creator

Becomes the Creator himself.

But the unity of the Creator and the creation

appears different to a distorted eye.

What Sai declares is truth itself."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Travel from the Idol to the Ideal

"Someone once asked, "Swami, I have a beautiful Rama idol that I worship everyday. How long should I do worship?"

Somebody also added, "No, no, no! My Krishna statue is more beautiful. How long should I worship?"

Baba said, "So long as you have this body feeling, "I am this body", continue to worship. The moment you grow beyond that, the moment you realise that you are not the body, you don't need to worship any idols at all."

Swami says that we must travel from the idol to the ideal. But we are idle in between! So that is the tragedy. We are not supposed to be idle. Worship the idol and attain the ideal."

(From the book "Divine Reflections" by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Men's Eyes

"Men use their eyes to look at the attractions of the world and not the charm of God. As long as man is fascinated by the phenomenal world, he cannot comprehend the Divine. Even the most eminent persons are subject to this weakness. This is a mark of the powerful influence of the Kali Age."

Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 9.4.95)

Samsara

"Many devotees tell Swami that they are caught up in the coils of "Samsara" and are unable to break away from it. But what is the truth? Is it you who are clinging to "Samsara" or is it "Samsara" that is holding you in its grip? Has "Samsara" any hands to hold you? You have hands and you are holding on to worldly life. "Samsara" is not holding you.

It is excessive attachment that is the cause of man's troubles. Do everything as an act of offering to the Divine. Without faith in God, man ceases to be human."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 9.4.95)

Sharing

Sharing a joy is a happiness doubled.

It is a win-win situation.

Share then - why not?

(The Daily Enlightenment)

Devotees of Sai

"What is meant by calling yourselves devotees of Sai?

You have to foster love and develop unity.

You must consider yourselves as members of one family,

the children of one God.

Only then you are entitled to call yourselves Sai devotees.

Whatever others may say,

do not bear any ill will towards them.

Welcome everything as for your good."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 25.12.95)

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba

"When the heart is devoid of divine feelings,

Two flaws haunt man.

First, to conceal innumerable shortcomings in oneself;

Second, to highlight the smallest of mistakes in others."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Dearest Swami ...

Dearest Swami,

I have a confession to make.

I do not seem to be able to let go and surrender myself at Your lotus feet.

Though I may say I place all my worries in Your capable hands,

my mind is still an endless cycle of anxiety, fear and apprehension.

Why can’t I sit back and leave everything to You?

Dear Lord, please embrace me in Your endless love

and teach me to live each day with total faith and trust in You!

~ Divine Blossoms ~

Difficulties are There to Learn Lessons

"Many ask, "Why are there difficulties in life? How long will they continue?" Difficulties are a sort of training ground or rough lessons. "Swami, can't there be easy lessons? These lessons seem to be very painful."

Bhagawan says that when you learn to ride a bicycle, you fall many times. Nobody learns bicycle riding without falling at least once. You may not say that, but your mother knows better. Your grandmother remembers because she applied the bandage. Maybe mother had no time as she was employed. So, you will necessarily fall as you learn the art of riding a bicycle.

Similarly, you will pass through many bumps and jumps, lashes and flashes, ups and downs, tears and smiles until you learn the lesson. The moment you learn the lesson, you do not mind anything. Difficulties are no longer barriers, difficulties are no longer obstacles. They are easy ... merely passing clouds."

(From the book "Divine Reflections" by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Peace

Peace is essential for man at all the three levels -

body, mind and spirit.

This is the reason we chant Santhi three times.

Man can attain peace at these three levels

only by developing love for God."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 25.12.98)

God is One

"The same water has different names

in different languages.

Similarly, God is one,

but He is worshipped in many forms and names."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 26.9.98)

Chains

Is there something that binds you?

Or is the thought that you are bound

that binds you?

You are not bound by any chains now.

Only your thoughts bind you -

there are no metal chains, only mental ones.

Any mental chains have to be broken,

let go of, by mental effort.

(The Daily Enlightenment)

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba

"If you were a tree,

I would wind around you like a creeper.

If you were a flower,

I would be a bumblebee swaying around you.

If you were the infinite sky,

I would shine like a tiny star.

If you were the surging sea,

I would be a river flowing into you.

If you were the Meru Mountain,

I would flow like a brook on you."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Dearest Swami ...

Dearest Swami,

Have I told you lately that I love You?

When I look back, my heart is full of remorse

for I have done so little to serve You during Your lifetime on earth.

All my efforts were but a small drop in the ocean.

From now on, dear Lord, let me be engaged in Your tasks constantly

with You by my side and Your name on my lips!

~ Divine Blossoms ~

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba

"Is it possible to transcend the fruits of actions, Oh Man?

You may master great texts,

You may worship many family deities,

You may go to the forests

And undertake laborious acts of penance;

Is it possible to transcend the consequences of action?

You may dip your vessel in a small stream or in the seven seas;

You will only obtain as much water as the vessel will hold."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Love

"Love cannot be earned by any means.

It is a gift of God.

Gift this gift of love to God.

Only then you will have self-satisfaction."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 25.12.98)

Spreading the Light

There are three ways of spreading the light of Truth.

One is to be a candle.

One is to be the mirror reflecting it.

One is to share your light with other candles.

(The Daily Enlightenment)

Life is an Ocean

"Life is an ocean filled with waves of pleasure and pain.

Man is happy when his desires are fulfilled

and is sad when they are not.

Pain and pleasure are like the two parts of a seed

or the two sides of a coin.

People should learn to treat pleasure and pain alike."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 12.4.96)

Life is a Long Journey

"Life is a long journey.

Desires are the luggage you carry.

The less the luggage the greater the comfort

during the journey.

Man has to discriminate between necessities

and luxuries and confine his desires

to what is essential."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 12.4.96)

Dearest Swami ...

Sometimes it all seems like a dream, a bad dream.

I see your Divine Body lying there – can this be true?

Has time passed by so quickly that it is time for You to leave us?

Until Your earthly departure woke us up,

we were still in a deep sleep, shrouded by a thick blanket of Maya.

How much time we have wasted on the unending merry-go-round of life,

not knowing where we were going!

Oh, how I wish I could turn the clock back

and have You, my Lord, still among us!

~ Divine Blossoms ~

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba

"The birds and beasts,

Who do not know any disciplines of knowledge,

Lead lives of discipline and restraint in the world.

But man, who is endowed with intelligence,

Does not abide by any discipline at all,

Due to lack of discrimination.

The word of Sai is the word of Truth."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

True Devotion

Once Sathyabhama and Rukmini questioned Lord Krishna: "Why do you always make much of the devotion of Draupadi? Is she that great?" The Lord replied with a smile, "I shall let you know by and by."

One day, Draupadi came to visit her dear brother Krishna and she was given a suite of rooms. Krishna called Sathyabhama and Rukmini and said: "Let us go to Draupadi's apartment."

Draupadi welcomed them with love and excitement. She had just taken an oil bath and her long tresses were hanging loose. She was combing her hair. The Lord looked at his queens and said: "See! My sister seems to find it difficult to comb her long tresses. Why don't you both help her?"

Sathyabhama and Rukmini readily agreed. The tresses were parted, one half was taken care by Sathyabhama and the other by Rukmini.

While they were combing, they heard from every hair "Krishna", "Krishna" in a soft tone. They were surprised and looked at Krishna as if to say they had understood Draupadi's devotion. Krishna sat still enjoying the scene. True devotion is silent and avoids display.

(Chinna Katha by Sri Sahtya Sai Baba)

Letting Go

By plucking a flower,

you do not grasp its beauty.

By clinging,

you do not get.

By letting go of everything,

what of this world is not yours?

(The Daily Enlightenment)

Making a Precious Jewel

"Give the guru your mind as you would

entrust gold to the goldsmith. The guru

may need to melt, mould or beat your mind,

but do not worry as he will return to you a

precious jewel. Do not say, "Swami, give

me peace but don't give me pain" as
Swami may need to inflict pain before

the process of purification is completed."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(S.S. - Jan. 1999)

Dearest Swami ...

Dearest Swami,

My thoughts wandered today to Your earthly abode

in Prashanti Nilayam where you lie blissfully asleep.

Oh, how I long to be there with You, dear Lord!

I long to sit before Your Lotus Feet and lose myself in Your presence.

I will never be able to see Your form again, dear Lord

but I know you’re always there, ever wakeful to Your devotees’ prayers and hopes.

Until my feet step on holy soil again,

please wait for me, dear Lord, please wait for me!

~ Divine Blossoms ~

Desire

"Bad qualities like hatred, anger and desire

are responsible for restlessness.

The worst enemy of mankind is desire."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 4.9.98)

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba

"Mother's love is more fragrant than the jasmine flower;

It is more tender than the champak creeper;

Softer than the creamy layer of cheese and butter;

More beautiful than the peacock's eye

And more soothing than full moon light."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

The State of the World

"What is the world coming to?"

All of us might ask this in exasperation.

Don't ask each other that!

If only we all ask ourselves instead,

"What should I be coming to?",

we might have a clue.

Whether the state of the world

is hell or pureland,

it begins and ends with us as individuals.

(The Daily Enlightenment)

Me! Me! Me!

"Do not let anxiety be able to attack you.

Just stay calm and think of Me at all times.

Make Me your mind,

Make Me your heart

Then your thoughts will not control you.

Your emotions will not slip away.

Let all your duty and work be a pleasure.

Make Me the reason to live.

Make Me the air you breathe.

Then the "you" will lose its meaning,

And it will only be Me! Me! Me!"

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Sai Darshan)

Only Your Smile

Give me, my Lord, only your smile

And I'll float in the air

Like a feather,

So light, so white

So full of delight.

Give me, my Lord, only Your look

And my heart will start

Dancing and singing

So light, so bright

So full of delight.

Give me, my Lord, only Your love

And I will merge with You

In a moment of ecstasy,

So full of light

And eternal delight.

~ Dr. Edith Zeile ~

(S.S. Oct. 1998)

Experiencing God

"How is God to be experienced?

God is present in everyone like butter in milk.

Your heart is the container.

Love is the milk present in the heart.

When this love is offered to the Lord,

it acts as the churning process for getting butter.

There is then the direct experience of the Divine."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 18.6.96)