Divine Wisdom

Focus on God

"On the one side is the world and on the other, God.  You cannot have both simultaneously.  It is like riding on two horses which is sure to prove dangerous.  Focus your mind only on God and have total faith in Him."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - July 2006)

The Beauty of the Spirit

I was walking towards the store when I first saw her. She was between eighty and ninety years old. Her hair was thin, sparse, and as white as the snow on the sidewalk outside. Her face was red, chapped, and wrinkled from a lifetime of use. Her mouth was missing most of its teeth. Her gnarled hands each carried a bag full of groceries. She wore work boots that had clearly seen better days. As she shuffled slowly towards the door she stopped only once to put down her bags and button her thin, wool jacket.

I hurried my pace and opened the door for her. She smiled at me with her few remaining teeth and said, "Thank you, young man." I touched my gray hair and smiled at being thought of as a young man again. Then I watched as this ancient angel slowly walked to the food drive collection bin and lifted the heavier of her two bags up to put into it. She made one last stop on her way out to say "hi" to a young mother she knew. The mother had her baby girl in her arms and the elderly woman gently reached down and tickled the child under her chin. The little girl laughed with joy and kicked her feet. The old lady laughed as well in her cracked voice and then continued happily on her way. I stood there watching her and thought to myself: "That was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."

I am so thankful to God for teaching me over the years how to see clearly. I no longer look at the world through the eyes of society with its plastic surgery view of what is beautiful and what is not. God has showed me through His love, His grace, and His guidance to see with the eyes of my soul and to recognize the beauty of the spirit in each of us.

I hope that lovely old woman continues to touch others with her gentleness, kindness, and joy for years to come. May her beauty, love, and light shine bright on Earth and in Heaven.

~ Joseph J. Mazzella

The Magic of Love

Love is like magic 

And it always will be. 

For love still remains 

Life’s sweet mystery!! 

Love works in ways 

That are wondrous and strange 

And there’s nothing in life 

That love cannot change!! 

Love can transform 

The most commonplace 

Into beauty and splendor 

And sweetness and grace. 

Love is unselfish, 

Understanding and kind, 

For it sees with it’s heart 

And not with its mind!! 

Love is the answer 

That everyone seeks…. 

Love is the language, 

That every heart speaks. 

Love can’t be bought, 

It is priceless and free, 

Love, like pure magic, 

Is life’s sweet mystery!

– Helen Steiner Rice –

Monkey Mind

"We must treat all human beings alike. By doing so, all people will be happy. Good and bad, pleasure and pain - everything must be faced with a sense of equanimity. That is the foremost duty of a human being. The human mind is susceptible to several changes, on account of the food one takes and the company one moves in. The mind is like a mad monkey. It is not an ordinary monkey, but “mad monkey”. Strictly speaking, the mind is a component of mankind. Hence, it should be kind. Unfortunately, today we are converting it into a monkey. A person should always be a person. Let others do whatever they wish to us, unknowingly, but we should not consciously think in terms of doing harm to others. This is My advice."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(New Year Discourse - 1.1.2008) 

Miraculous Escape

It was soon afterwards that I had miraculous escape from being very badly burnt. One day, I was deep frying pakoras in a saucepan. As I turned around to get some ingredients down from a shelf, the sleeve of my gown became entangled with the handle of the saucepan; at least, it must have, for I didn’t notice it then, and so turned around nonchalantly.

Imagine my great horror and utter consternation as I turned and saw that the saucepan full of boiling fat and sizzling pakoras was about to land right on me! I was petrified and stood rooted to the ground, unable to move. If I had moved, I would only have hastened the descent of the saucepan, which was ominously sliding towards me.

I let out a terrific scream ‘Baba’. And then the miracle happened. The saucepan slid out of the sleeve of my gown, turned around all by itself, of it’s own volition, by 180 degrees and went and sat nonchalantly on the other burner of the stove; I stood for a while, utterly dazed, then came to and expressed my heart-felt gratitude to my Lord. How kind, how compassionate is my beloved Master. I bowed to Him in utmost gratitude and love.

Swami’s Quotations
“Be ever in consciousness that you are but a shadow of God, His image. Then, no harm can come to you. God walks along the royal road to Truth. The shadow holding to Him by the Feet, falls on hallow and hill, fire and water and dirt and dust. But, holding to the Feet, as done the shadow, you will be unaffected by the ups and downs of life”.

~ Baba

“Why worry about not having been able to touch these Feet? My Feet are within your reach, at all times, where ever you are.”

Sarvatha paani pada - hands and feet everywhere. Baba.

(Experiences of devotees from: www.saibaba.ws)

Give Up Bad Qualities

"Develop compassion and spirit of sacrifice and earn a good name. Do away with all evil qualities like anger, pride, hatred and jealousy. Any act of charity or service that you undertake will prove futile if you do not give up bad qualities. Develop love, share it with others, and make them happy. Only then will your education become meaningful. This is the service that you are expected to render to your motherland. You don’t need to undertake gigantic service projects or construct big schools. Serve society as per your capacity. Whatever activity you undertake, let it be suffused with love. There is no wealth greater than love." 

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(From Bhagawan's Benedictory address, 

20th Convocation of SSSIHL 22.11.2001, Prasanthi Nilayam)

A Bend in the Road

When we feel we have nothing left to give

and we are sure that the song has ended.

When our day seems over

and the shadows fall

and the darkness of night has descended.

Where can we go to find the strength

to valiantly keep on trying

Where can we find the hand that will dry

the tears that the heart is crying.

There’s but one place to go

and that is to God

and dropping all pretense and pride.

We can pour out our problems

without restraint

and gain strength with Him at our side.

And together we stand at life’s crossroads

and view what we think is the end.

Cross

But God has a much bigger vision

and He tells us it’s only a bend.

For the road goes on and is smoother

and the pause in the song is a rest.

And the part that’s unsung and unfinished

is the sweetest and richest and best

So rest and relax and grow stronger

let go and let God share your load.

Your work is not finished or ended

you’ve just come to a bend in the road.

~ Helen Steiner Rice ~

Sai Madhuryam

Everyone has to face the consequences of 

his actions, whoever he may be.

None can know what lies ahead for him

in the future.

But this much is sure that everybody

has to reap the consequences of his actions.

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~ 

Quotable Quotes

Baba's Storytime - The Potent Power of Devotion

Once in Calcutta (now Kolkata), in the Kali temple constructed by Queen Rasmani, an idol of Lord Krishna fell down and the foot of the Lord was broken a little.

Since many elders declared that according to the scriptures a broken image should not be worshipped, the Queen made arrangements to get a new one made by sculptors. 

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa heard of this and he reproached the Queen, saying: "Maharani (Your Highness, the Queen), if your son-in-law breaks his leg, what will you do? What is the correct thing to do? Bandaging the foot and setting it right, or discarding the son-in-law and getting another instead?" 

The elders and pundits were dumb-founded; the broken foot of Lord Krishna was set right and the image was installed and worshipped as before. 

When devotion is purified and is ascendant, the Lord will be patent even in a broken idol. This too is the dharma (right conduct) declared in the scriptures.

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

A Human Being

"Every human being must lead a life full of joy. We have the body. We are performing several chores with the help of this body. But, that is not of much importance. There is a great Atmic principle in this body. We must strive to realise that principle. 

Every human being has a mind. But today, that mind is polluted. Wherever you see, pollution and pollution. The food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and finally our behaviour itself --everything is polluted. 

Therefore, ensure that your mind is not polluted by bad thoughts. You must always have a positive mind, not a negative mind. You may undertake a great task, but it cannot succeed if it is undertaken with a negative mind. You must always have a positive mind to experience happiness. You should also share that happiness with others. That is the real nature of a human being. 

A human being is also called "manava". What is its underlying meaning? It means: he who conducts himself with peace and joy, without doing injustice to others. You must cultivate such noble feelings, free from pollution."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 14.1.2003)

Quotable Quotes

"Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance, but in the heart;

Real treasure lies not in what that can be seen, 

but what that cannot be seen.

Real love lies not in what is done and known 

but in what is done but not known."

~ Author Unknown ~

An Experience of a Lifetime

For all the students who worked at the Sathya Sai Hill View Stadium weeks and months before it was to be opened in 1982, they will never forget Bhagawan's Love showered upon them every day. Apart from the L&T Engineers, the people who worked the Hardest were Swami's Students because Bhagawan always drilled the fact into them that it would they who would be using the Stadium the most, so they should work more on it. Apart from Bhagawan's daily trips to the stadium, His giving of sweets and other presents to the boys were imprinted on the minds of everyone concerned.

One wonderful incident happened which left an indelible impression on everyone concerned was about a dog which used to follow Bhagawan from a distance everyday. It never interfered with anyone, after Bhagawan left it used to go and sleep in front of the many trees near the High School. Swami never even looked at it even once. 

As days passed, one day before Bhagawan was about to get into His car, He suddenly stopped and walked a few metres, and stood for a few minutes facing the high school building. Everybody was surprised at seeing Swami standing alone and looking into the distance, then the dog appeared from behind the school building and started running towards Bhagawan. Bhagawan bent down, patted and caressed the dog, gave it a few eatables and after a few minutes, left the dog and went away.

Nobody ever saw the dog again. After a few days someone mustered the courage to ask Bhagawan about the dog. Bhagawan said that immediately after it left Him, it jumped into a well and died because as Swami said, "It did not want to touch anyone after I had touched it."

We sometimes look down upon creatures down the line of species as very inferior to us; this incident proves that everyone and everything has a conscience and every one is equal before Bhagawan. 

Bhagawan's Love is for everyone to experience, it is how we experience it is the Question.

Om Sai Ram.

---

Courtesy: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/23203

Every Now and Then

Every now and then, the light in a stranger's

eyes pulls at the outer threads of my mind with 

a familiar tug ...

and I wonder ...

Every now and then, an unexpected, kind word

from a complete stranger lifts a layer of

sadness from my heart ...

and I wonder ;;;

Every now and then, a warm smile from a 

passer-by penetrates my soul ...

and I wonder ...

Every now and then, a kind gesture by a stranger

restores my faith in the goodness of the human spirit ;;;

and I wonder ;;;

Every now and then, a chance encounter with a 

store clerk, a waiter or waitress, a

construction worker, a crossing guard, a bus

driver, a parking lot attendant, a mail carrier,

a volunteer, a repair person, a ticket taker,

a hot dog vendor, a stranger in any number of

forms, shapes and sizes, has all the markings of

the hand print of God ...

and I wonder ...

~ Terri McPherson ~

Sai Madhuryam

The body is a box of rusty tin. 

Inside the box are priceless gems - diamonds, emeralds, sapphires. 

The box is worthless, but the gems are highly valuable. 

The body is of little worth, but the indwelling Lord is of real worth. 

The body is a mud doll, leather puppet, a delusive toy. 

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Start Early

"When old age overtakes you, the body becomes weak, vision fails, the face is full of wrinkles; 

Urchins surround you and tease you as stuffed monkey And your body itself becomes a burden of misery. Is that when you should offer your body to God? No, not at all. Offer yourself to God in your youth, when all your faculties are at their peak performance and the body is full of vigor and vitality.      [Telugu Poem] 

Start prayer and devotion to God at early age.

How can you do that? You can do it by following the principles of sathya, dharma, santhi, prema and ahimsa. These are sacred delicious items of food to be offered to God. And they must be offered on the fresh, green plantain leaf of tender, supple, and efficient body. 

Prayer and devotion to God at early age will bring fulfillment in your life. You have forgotten this truth. When somebody asks why you don't think of God, you say, there is still time for it; you can do so after retirement. Even after retirement, some people run after re-employment. 

What is the use of all your earnings, when your end is near? 

You fool, think, who will follow you in death. It is a folly to forget God while striving to live. Look after your family, perform your duties, but hold in your heart always God.  [Telugu Poem)]"

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 27.4.1999)

Difficulties

"Pleasure is an interval between two pains. There cannot be happiness without difficulties. These difficulties are meant to give you happiness, and not to make you miserable with more sorrows. Hence, whatever comes to us, we should consider it as God’s gift and be happy. We should not consider that it has been given to us to make us suffer. Suppose you have pain in the stomach. What will the doctor do? If he performs an operation, it is not for causing pain to you. The pain that the doctor causes is to remove your suffering. Hence, one should bear difficulties and overcome his sorrows"

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 15.12.2008)

May All the Living Beings of All the Worlds be Happy

Quotable Quotes

"Love is a fruit in season at all times

and within reach of every hand."

~ Mother Teresa ~

The Messenger Bird

Once upon a time, there were two sisters - Sunbeam (who was always bright and cheerful) and Starlight (whose eyes twinkled like the stars).  They loved each other so much and were so happy together that they never knew what trouble meant until, one day, Starlight got very sick and died.

For the first time, Sunbeam's heart was full of grief.  She had no one else to play with.  So she sat down by the river and cried and cried for Starlight to come back to her.

Her father told her that Starlight had gone to the Spiritland of love and beauty and would be happy forever and ever.  Sunbeam was comforted.

Sunbeam had heard people say that birds were messengers from the Spiritland.  So she hunted through the woods until she found a little songbird that was too young to fly.  She carried it gently home, put it into a cage, watched over it and fed it tenderly day after day until its wings grew strong and it filled the woods with its music.

Then she carried it to Starlight's grave and after she had loaded it with kisses and messages of love for Starlight, she told it never to cease its sweetest song or fold its shining wings until it had flown to the Spiritland.

When she let it go, the glad bird poured forth a song more joyful than any that Sunbeam had ever heard.  Higher and higher it flew, and sweeter and sweeter grew its song, until at last both its form and its music were lost in the floating summer clouds.

Then Sunbeam told her father, with a bright smile and a light heart, that she had talked with dear Starlight.

And Sunbeam was once more a bright and happy girl.

Love restores, even at times of death.  "Love cures people, both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it."

Divine Wisdom

Baba's Storytime - Position of Vantage

You know that the Garuda bird feeds on snakes.  Well, once Garuda went to Kailasa Mountain to pay respects to Siva, who wears snakes on His head, arms, wrists, neck, waist and ankles.  

When the snakes saw Garuda, they were unafraid; they even dared put out their forked tongues at Garuda and challenged him to come near them.

That was the extent of the courage lent to them by the place where they had established themselves.  So, establish yourselves in the Atma; no worry or grief or pride can harm you then.

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

Keep the Mind Clean

"When thoughts and feelings are impure and agitated, one cannot be calm and happy. When the mind is polluted, reactions are polluted.  To keep the mind clean, one has to analyse sympathetically situations involving others and their activities, and then decide on how to react to them."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - Sept. 2005)

Dear Lord ...

Dear Lord,

Today I failed Your test again,

 I spoke angry words, I hurt someone's feelings,

in frustration, I escaped to my garden 

and sat beneath a tree.

"Oh tree," I whispered.  "Do you ever get angry?"

I heard a rustle of leaves above me.
I saw a butterfly flit across the sky.

"Oh butterfly," I whispered.  "Do you ever get angry?"

It flew towards me and brushed against my cheek.

If only they could both speak to me.

Oh Lord, will You teach me how to conquer this

loathsome enemy called Anger?

~ Divine Blossoms ~

Sai Madhuryam

It is only when people banish hatred and violence, 

develop love and realise that all are one, 

can the earth be transformed into heaven. 

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Divine Wisdom

God is Your True Friend

"Don’t be deluded by the pictures that appear on the screen. Have the picture of God imprinted on your heart. Develop strong conviction and consider Him as your sole refuge. Only then can you have the vision of God. 

This morning, a Russian lady came to Me. During the course of conversation, she said, “Swami, I have a friend.” 

When I asked who he was, she took out her wallet and showed a small photograph. I told her, “Mother, he is your husband, not your friend. Do not consider your husband as your friend or your friend as your husband.” 

She said, “Swami, this is what I have been doing all these years. Is it a mistake?”

I said, “Yes, it is a mistake, it certainly IS a mistake.” Then I asked her when she met him first. She said that she knew him for the last three years. 

I told her, “This type of relationship is temporary. God alone is your true friend. You may forget Him, but He will never forget you. He will be with you even after your death. Hence, treat God as your true friend. Ultimately, you will become one with Him.” 

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 17.10.2004)

Suffering

"Pleasure and pain are of your own making.  They are not given by God.  You are the cause of your suffering, none else.  Understand this truth.  From the spiritual point of view, pleasure, pain and worldly relationships are illusory.  They are not real.  

Right from dawn to dusk, you lead a life full of delusion.  Having been born as a human being, you should try to gain the experience of truth.  The physical body grows for a certain period and later on becomes weak and decrepit.  Birth and growth are related to the body which is unreal.  But man considers body to be real and thereby suffers.  

With open eyes, you see many people.  But when you close your eyes, you cannot see anybody.  From where do so many people come when you open your eyes?  Where do they go when you close your eyes?  You do not know.  In fact you do not know who you really are.  That is why you suffer.  Once you realise that you are not the body and nothing in this world belongs to you, you will not suffer.  Everything in this world is of your own making.  Nothing is real.

You are the embodiment of love.  Love is with you and in you always.  Bereft of love, man cannot exist.  Love is life.  Love is the light that dispels the darkness of ignorance.  Once you have the light of love, you will be able to overcome illusion and visualise the latent reality.  One who does not cultivate love will be born again and again."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 25.12.2003)

Listen

As a writer I am always looking for inspiration. I can always tell that God has a sense of humor too, because my best inspirations often come at the most inconvenient times when I have nothing to write them down on. 

I can remember once years ago when I was walking with my children around a local lake in the Summertime. The sun was sparkling off the crystal clear waters. Butterflies were dancing above the wild flowers. The shady trees were full of chirping birds. It felt so peaceful there. I smiled and relaxed. Of course, that is when the idea for a new story suddenly appeared, fully formed, in my mind. We were still a half-mile away from our car and I was afraid my aging brain would forget part of the story before I got there. I took my pen out of my pocket then and started writing it down on the palm of my hand.

Later after I had transferred the inspiration to paper and was washing the ink off my hand I laughed and asked God why He always seemed to speak to my heart at the strangest times. As soon as I said it, I heard in my mind: "Because that is the only time you are listening!"

Maybe if we all want to hear from God more often we should just shut up and listen. God speaks to us in the silence of our souls. God whispers to us in the quiet of the storm. God talks to us but never talks over us. If you want to hear God''s inspiration and guidance in your heart and mind, you have to shut off your own noise. If you want to feel God''s love inside you, you have to silence the chattering monkey within.

We are all Children of God and He is forever ready to love us, inspire us, guide us, improve us, and help us to grow into the people we were meant to be. His inspiration comes to us through our thoughts, our intuition, our experiences, and our lives. All we have to do is let Him in. All we have to do is open our hearts and close our mouths. All we have to do is listen.

~ Joseph J. Mazzella ~

The Priceless Gift

The priceless gift of life is love, 

For with the help of God above 

Love can change the human race 

And make this world a better place;

For love dissolves all hate and fear 

And makes our vision bright and clear 

So we can see and rise above 

Our pettiness on wings of love.

~ Helen Steiner Rice ~

Divine Love

"You are the repository of divine love which has neither birth nor death.  This love is always with you, in you, around you, before you, above you.  If you cultivate this love, you will always remain as embodiments of love.  Have firm faith in this divine love.  Do not put faith in worldly love lest you should get deluded.  Worldly love is like passing clouds.  Such clouds come and go.  They are not permanent.  Love that which is eternal.  That is the Atma.  Love the Atma Tattwa."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(From Bhagawan's Inaugurl Discourse on the occasion of the

"Seminar of Vice-Chancellors on Value Education and Ethics"

on 28.10.2003)

Dharma

"Do not deviate from Dharma for the sake of Dhana (money).  Dharma is your life, truth is your breath, good reputation is your wealth.  You should not crave for worldly name and fame.  Once you practise Dharma, you will naturally attain good reputation."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - Jan. 2004)

May All the Living Beings of All the Worlds be Happy

Speak Truth

"It is the duty of man to speak truth and lead his life with love, adhering to the canons of Dharma.  A man without truth, righteousness, peace, kindness and love is like a living corpse.  Man should consider these values as his very life principle.  Never tell a lie even jokingly.  Never make fun of anybody.  Criticising others is a great sin.  There is no greater sin than criticising others.  Therefore, we should not criticise anybody whosoever he may be.  Love all.  Love is God.  God is Love.  Love is life."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 15.8.2006)

Sai Madhuryam

Where the six noble qualities of 

uthsaha (enthusiasm), 

sahasa (determination), 

dhairya (courage), 

buddhi (intelligence), 

shakti (energy) and 

parakrama (valour) are evident, 

God’ s protection and grace prevail there.

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Baba's Storytime - Guru's Grace

Sankara, the great acharya, had four chief pupils: Thotake, Hastamalaka, Sureswara and Padmapada.  Of these, Padmapada was intent only on service to the Guru; he could not pay attention to the lessons.  The others used to sneer at him for his backwardness in studies.  But his deep reverence for the guru made up for it.

One day, he washed the clothes of his Guru and dried them on a rock in the middle of the river but, even as he was folding them, the river rose fast in a swirling flood, and he had scarce a foothold on the top of the rock.  It was getting late; the Guru would need the washed clothes soon; so Padmapada resolved to walk across the raging waters.  He knew that the blessing of his Guru would rescue him.  It did.  Wherever his foot was planted, a sturdy lotus bloomed and bore him on its petals.

That is why he came to be called, "Lotus-footed Padmapada"!  The grace of the Guru enabled him to master all knowledge and shine as a brilliant exponent of the ancient wisdom.

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

Unconditional Love

A treasure to be cherished,

A gift from God above;

Is the beauty of a friendship,

Touched by unconditional love.

A love that asks no questions,

Believes in all the best;

Never doubting, ever trusting,

Withstanding any test.

A love that weathers any storm,

And yet that love still stands,

Through the very darkest hour,

It still reaches out a hand.

There in that hand the sweetest gift,

That you can give a friend;

A heart that cares, a love that shares,

That will be there till the end.

A treasure to be cherished,

A gift from God above;

Is what I share with you my friend,

An unconditional love.

~ Allison Chambers Coxsey ~

Donation of Love

Almost 4 months ago, I lost my sister to stage IV metastasized breast cancer. It was a very hard loss. So when my Mother called to tell me that she had been diagnosed with stage IV metastasized lung cancer just weeks later, my 5-year old daughter, Daelynn, and I were heartbroken. We made a special trip to Wisconsin a week ago to spend time with my Mother and say our goodbyes, which we hope won't be the last.

A few days ago, Daelynn saw a commercial on television about donating hair to those who have cancer. First, she asked if she could give hers to Grandma. I told her that Grandma probably would rather her donate it to another little girl who might need it more. She asked if I thought her hair was long enough to share with someone who needs it, to which I said yes. I told her it would mean that she would have short hair, and she told me in a very positive voice, "Yes, it's only hair, it'll grow back!"

Today she decided it was time for the cut and was very excited about sharing her hair. We measured and cut off 9 inches, which she placed in a Ziploc bag.

She then made a speech so sweet, that I got all teared up.

"Dear hair, we've been together a long time, but I know you will make any little girl who can't have her own hair very happy."

Then she jumped up and started clapping.

She LOVES her short hair and says that now two people are happy. I told her that more than just two people are happy and that I was so proud of her for choosing to do such a beautiful thing for someone else. She wanted me to make note that she was sending her hair in honor of her Aunt Kelsie and her Grandmother Kay Lee.

~ Chaska Moore ~

Divine Wisdom

God Will Not Forsake You

"Do not think that God is somewhere away from you.  He will not go anywhere.  He will not forsake you.  God is immanent in you; He is always in you, with you, around you.  Hold on to this truth firmly and lead a happy life.  When you are alone, think "God is with me".  Have firm faith.  "I am not alone; both God and I are together."  Develop this faith from now itself.  Then you will have no worries and troubles."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 20.3.2007)

Quotable Quotes

"The best portion of a good man's life:

his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love."

~ William Wordsworth ~

Be the Light

When yours are the only hands clapping

and when everyone stands you sit,

your soul releases a leap of light

and the seams of darkness are split.

When yours is the only face smiling

and when everyone leaves you stay,

the lamp of your life shines a beacon

on the solid path of God's Way.

When yours is the only faith present

and when everyone hates you love,

 heaven rings with the sound of applause,

led by The One Above.

~ Terri McPherson ~