Divine Wisdom

The Goal of Human Life

"What is the goal of human life?  Is it just eating, drinking, sleeping, tasting a little joy and grief, and finally dying like any bird or beast?  The goal is Brahman-sakshathakara, the realization of the Absolute, of Brahman.  Without that, no man can attain shanthi.  He must win that Bliss by merging in the consciousness of the Absolute by Divine Grace."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Dharma Vahini)

Intimations of Mortality

One merchant who was very much afraid of death worshipped the God of Death, Yama, for many years and offered elaborate Puja to Him.  Yama was pleased at the special attention and adoration shown by him and promised that he will not pounce upon him all of a sudden, but will give him advance intimation, so that he can put his affairs in good trim before leaving the world.  

When at last his end came and he was about to die, he got wild with Yama and in his anger, he charged Yama with falsehood, ingratitude and cheating.  He said that he was not given any advance intimation at all.  

But Yama said, "Why?  I had sent you not one but four intimations, well in advance of this consummation."  The merchant said that he had not received any of them.  But Yama said, "Your hair turned grey.  That was the first intimation.  But you dyed it and forgot its lesson.  I made you bald but you wore a wig and slighted the notice I gave.  Then I had all your teeth fall off; you wore a denture and pretended I was far away.  The fourth intimation I sent was folds all over your skin.  You did not pay heed to that warning too."

Indeed Yama has kept His word.

(Chinna Katha from the Divine Discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)

Gifts from God

"There is no need to pray for gifts from God.  

God will give on His own accord what is good for any devotee.

Did not Sabari and Jataayu get the grace of Rama even without their asking for it?

God will decide what to give, when to give and where.

Hence all actions should be dedicated to God 

and He should decide what the devotee is fit to receive."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 20.6.96)

The Ropes of Attachment

At one time, Radha and her companions were travelling from Mathura to Brindavan by boat.  They set out at the early hours of dawn to the river and having seated themselves in the boat, they began to row.  Their arms began to ache with the strain.  The sun rose high.  They watched the residents of Mathura coming to fill their pots and were astonished.  They had rowed all night but were still in the same place!  Then they discovered that they had forgotten to untie the ropes which bound their boat to the posts of the waterfront.

Similarly, we too perform many types of sadhana and practices, but we do not loosen our bonds of attachment, so we continue to remain in the same state of mind.  Only when the rope of attachment is untied can we reach our destination.

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(From: Spiritual Impressions - July-Aug. 2001)

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba

"Being born in water and floating in water,

The water bubble ultimately bursts in water.

Man is the water bubble and the Lord is the water.

This is the Truth I declare."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Divine Wisdom

Quotable Quotes

Thank you, God for this good life

and forgive us if we do not love it enough.

~ Garrison Keillor ~

One Divine Moment of Love

I was too small to know what was happening to me.  I came to know that I had just made my latest entry into Earth a few days back and my parents had taken me to Swami.

Years later, I came to know that Swami was the most important member of our family and the most important person in my life.  Actually He owned the Earth.

Years later, I also came to know that Swami had lovingly held me in His hands that day as if I was a little doll.  Even today I am Swami's little doll. He talked to my father and mother for a long time while some of my uncles (my father's friends) sat around.  Then one of my uncles, who had kept His camera outside for the monkeys to play with, brought it inside and Swami held me up proudly as if I was His child.  I am His child - His sole Creation.  Uncle took a snap shot and captured the moment for eternity.

When I look at the photograph so many years later, I wonder at so many things.  Was that little confused bundle in Swami's hands really me?  Did I know then what was happening?  If I really did, why do I not remember them now?  Oh, how my grown up body aches to be held in Swami's Hands once again like that! How I wish I could always remain as a child to Swami.

I think good things should happen once in a while.  The One who holds the whole world in His hands had held me.  I was His world that day.  That sweet moment can be there only once, not more.  Or else, it loses its value.  Today I live in the sweet memory of that one divine moment when the love of God and the love of a mother had become one.

I love You, Swami.  I am grateful to You.

(Author not named)

(From: Spiritual Impressions - Mar-June 2001)

The Heart

"The heart with compassion

is the temple of God."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Divine Wisdom

I Will Take a Hundred Steps Towards You ...

(A fond recollection of an unforgettable experience)

I had not been able to visit Trayee Brindavan to have Swami's darshan during His visit here in January, though my office was just opposite the road.  One evening, I was at the bus stand near the ashram gate, waiting for a bus to take me back home.  I would lie if I wasn't disappointed with myself.  I tried to reason with myself fending excuses that my work and its schedule came in the way of walking across the road and having His darshan.  

I was woken out of this miserable reverie by the sharp beep of a car horn.  I turned back to see a big car gliding out of the rear gate of Trayee Brindavan and slowly move past by me.  Inquisitively I peered at the back seat to find out who the fortunate passenger was.

IT WAS SWAMI!  The car left me there and moved up the road and a strange feeling of thrill and gratitude filled my being.  I could only quote the poet: "The king came down to see the beggar maid ...".

~ Sathya ~

(From: Spiritual Impressions - May-June 2001)

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba

"When God dwells in the heart,

Why search for Him here and there?

Render service and receive love;

That is how to experience the Atma in you."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Shivoham

A man was advised by his guru that every time he took a breath, he should utter the word "Shivoham".  Thus, during the waking hours he would be uttering the name of God several thousand times a day and this would be simple and good spiritual practice.  The man followed the advice and went on uttering the word every time he took a breath.

A friend who saw this asked him what the word "Sivoham" meant.  "It means that I am Lord Siva," said the man.  The friend asked, "If you are Siva what is Parvati to you?"  Quick came the reply "Parvati is my Divine Mother".  The friend to the shock of the devotee asked, "If you are Siva how can Parvati, His wife, be your Mother?"

Bhagawan Baba said that the devotee should have answered, "I am Parvati also," which implies that Siva and Parvati are not different from one another.  The same divine Atmic principle is present in both.  One who has realised this truth is the one of wisdom.

This shows how most people who practise spiritual sadhana ritualistically carry on such practices without deep conviction.  Mechanical repetition of mantra or divine names cannot take a person to the desired goal.

(From the book "I am I" by Ratan Lal)

One God

"One mind, several thoughts.

One tongue, several languages.

One pair of hands, continual action.

One pair of eyes, a lot of dreams.

One pair of ears, different kinds of music.

One pair of feet, several paths.

One heart, various forms of love.

One God, present in each and every one."

(From: "Sai Darshan" - Divine messages
received and recorded by Seema M. Dewan)

Quotable Quotes

"If we really want to love,

we must learn to forgive."

~ Mother Teresa ~

Divine Wisdom

Mantra

When spoken by the tongue of mind

A Mantra helps mankind to find

The light of truth which lies before

And always was.  

Like eagles we shall soar

Into the heights of silence and of love

Elevating consciousness glide above

Until the words give birth to God's good Light

To lead us safe through life's dark night.

~ Geoffrey Speechly ~

(S.S. June 1999)

Disappointments

"Welcome disappointments for they toughen you

and test your fortitude."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Perennial Flame of Life

"See unity in diversity.

Behold one divine form appearing in multi forms;

Immense is His vastness, paralleled is His glory.

All the countless earths, suns and planets which are seen,

and which are beyond our perceptions exist under His command.

Kindled in various forms, the perennial flame is one;

Painting the evening clouds with changing colours, the sun is one."

~ Rig Veda 8.58.2 ~

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba

"True education is that which teaches you

How to secure universal peace.

It destroys all narrow-minded feelings

And instils in you unity, fellowship and harmony."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Everyone Must Have Faith in Himself

There is no one who does not love himself, has no belief in himself and has no ambition to rise higher and higher.  Even a man who does not have faith in God has faith in himself and desires to have the strength by which to cultivate faith in himself.

There was once a guru communicating wisdom to people who came for his darshan with flowers and fruits.  One day, as the offerings were plenty, he called a disciple and asked him to cut the fruits and arrange for distribution as prasad.  The disciple reported to the guru that all was ready for distribution and asked him who should be given first.  The guru asked him to start with the person in whom he has the greatest faith and the highest confidence. 

All the people assembled there thought that the disciple would first give the fruit to the teacher and then distribute to the others.  But the disciple did not do so.  He took the first fruit himself.  When the surprised onlookers asked for an explanation, he said that since had the greatest confidence and affection for himself, he took the first fruit.

(Chinna Katha from the Divine Discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)

Divine Wisdom

Quotable Quotes

Prayer is the key of the morning

and the bolt of the evening.

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

What Prayer Means to Me

In the early Vedic period, prayers were important because people prayed for birth of a son, fertility of cows or material welfare.  Though centuries have passed our prayers continue to be pleas for the fulfulment of worldly desires.

This reminds me of the story of Rabiya, a very young Turkish saint  One day, her friend asked her, "You pray continuously in the morning and again in the afternoon, for three hours missing your siesta.  You prayed for two hours in the morning, too.  What do you pray for?  What is that precious thing which you beg from God?"

"Do you want vast wealth?"

Rabiya said "No."

"Then what do you pray for?"

Rabiya said, "I pray to God to take me as His own, to reject any material desires I plague Him with and only grant me the wish when I pray for others."

That is the true meaning of prayer, the very essence which remains almost forgotten by all of us.

From a young age, I became a regular Bal Vikas student in the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation in Africa.  Our Bal Vikas Gurus taught us to always pray "Lokaa Samasthaa Sukhino Bhawanthu" which means "May everyone in the whole world be happy and at peace."  This is the most selfless prayer we can offer to God for the wellbeing of the whole world.

It gives peace and also courage.  Once, a bull was running very fast.  People ran fearing its horns, except for a little girl who said, "To flee like cowards is not the way to tackle a situation.  The beast should be brought under control."

"Who has the courage to touch him," asked a tall man.

The little girl said, "I will."

With the name of God on her lips, she caught hold of the bull's horns and stopped him.  Responding to her fearless, loving touch, the bull turned meek.

Years later, the little girl, Lakshmi Bai, became famous as the legendary queen of Jhansi for her heroic resistance to British rule in India.

~ Swapna Raghu ~

(From: "Spiritual Impressions" Jul-Aug.2001)

Divine Wisdom

Drama of Love

"The whole world is a drama.  Every individual is an actor.  God is the Director.  It is only the Director who designs all the acting and the actors.  Whatever may be done, it is only a manifestation of the Divine.

Every human being is a spark of the Divine.  Love is his natural trait.  That is the goal of every living being and animal.  Therefore in this drama of love, we are all actors of love.  So in this drama, love is the transformation.  Therefore love is our natural quality.  Now, unfortunately, such love is forgotten.  Man is forgetting his responsibilities.  He is forgetting his role.

Therefore in this drama, everyone should play his role well, if not, he will lose his reputation and respect.  Everyone is a spark of the Divine.  So everyone should express that quality of love."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Sloth

Shower Ananda on others; lead them along the godly way; be an example in sincerity and earnestness.  Partake in Bhajan and Namasankirtan; have share in the singing, loudly  and with enthusiasm.  Some ask me, "Why should we sing aloud?  Isn't it enough if we feel it in the silence of the mind?"

This is mere dry Vedanta!  They are prepared to advise others in the Samithi, but are unwilling to practise the advice themselves!  

Two friends were remarkable for their sloth; one of them had to catch a train at 3 a.m.  So he asked his friend to wake him up at 2.30 a.m. for he had no faith in himself.  The friend was even more of a sloth!  He wanted that he should be awakened by his friend at 2.15 a.m. so that he could wake the same fellow at 2.30!  How can anything be accomplished by such men?

(Chinna Katha from the Divine Discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)

Inseparable from You

"I become inseparable from you

When you yearn for Me constantly."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(From: "Sai Darshan" by Seema M. Dewan)

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba

"Money comes and goes in this earth,

 But morality and righteousness stay intact.

If you fill your heart with morality and righteousness,

You will find fulfilment on this earth."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~