Divine Wisdom

 

Desires

Should desires be given up altogether? How do we control them? 

There are two kinds of desires: One is natural. The other is excessive and misdirected desire. "I want a house" is a legitimate desire, and one should seek it. But it is greedy to possess two or more houses. 

Today, greed is more prevalent among men than the desire for necessities. With the result that man is afflicted with grief and worry. He has become a stranger to contentment. He is steeped in discontent on account of insatiable desires. 

Whenever one is thirsty, one has to drink water. When will this thirst end? Thirst will not end as long as life lasts. Even at the moment of death, people feel thirsty. How is the thirst (for material things) to be quenched? It is possible to get rid of iron shackles when they get rusty with time, but it is not easy to get rid of trishna (desire). Trishna is the cause of limitless desires. 

If desires are fulfilled, one’s ahamkara (ego) gets inflated. If they are not realised, hatred develops. There are three doorways to hell for man: kama (desire), krodha (hatred) and lobha (greed). Desires tend to get out of bounds. Hence, it is essential to try to curb them as far as possible. The process of controlling desires is called sadhana.

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - May 29, 1988)

Life is a long journey. Reduce the burden of your desires. Less luggage, more comfort makes travel a pleasure. – BABA

Sai Madhuryam

 

The mind causes rebirth to beings

The mind causes release to beings

The mind confers victory to beings

In the struggle to attain the four:

Goodness, Fullness, Fruition, Freedom,

Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha.

The mind confers mergence everlasting.

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

The Bharadwaj Rishi Episode

On 29 June 1963, Swami called Kasturi and told him to announce that He would not grant interviews for the next one week.  The next day Swami fell ill.  His left hand was clenched into a fist.  His left leg had become stiff and toes had become taut.  Kasturi and Raja Reddy were in constant attendance.  Over the next few days, Swami had apoplexy, tubercular meningitis, angina pectoris and a series of heart attacks.  He declined all treatment, be it injection, lumber puncture or intravenous glucose solution.  Many people kept vigil while some wept.  

On 6 July 1963, Gurupurnima Day, Swami was brought to the stage with the help of Kasturi, Raja Reddy and some others, who helped Swami to sit on the silver chair.  The left side of His body was paralyzed.  Swami then asked for a glass of water to drink.  He sipped a few drops and sprinkled some water with His right hand on His limp left hand and on His left leg too.  He stroked the left with the right hand and with both hands stroked the left leg.  He rose and brought His mouth near the mike, and said, "Premaswarooplara" in His normal voice.  There were scenes of wild jubilation, people got up and danced with joy.  It took some time for order to be restored.

Swami then announced that the time had come for Him to reveal who He really was and why had He taken birth.  The story started with Rishi Bharadwaj's desire to master the Vedas.  In three hundred years, he found that he was far away from his goal.  When he asked Indra for another 100 years of extension to complete his study, Indra told him that this would get him nowhere.  He advised the Rishi to perform a yagna called Savitra and in that yagna, he would teach the Rishi the essence of the Vedas.  Rishi Bharadwaj went to Kaliash to invite Shiva and Shakti but found them engaged in a competitive dance to see who could dance longer.  Shakti smiled at him, looked away and continued dancing.  Shiva told Shakti that their roles are complementary and not competitive so what she was doing was wrong.  Besides she had neglected the yearning of the Rishi and would have to pay for this.

Bharadwaj turned away in despair and disappointment and started to return, but had a stroke and fell down.  Shiva and Shakti stopped  dancing and hastened to the Rishi.  Shiva took water from his Kamandalu and sprinkled it on the Rishi and revived him.  They told the Rishi that they were pleased with his devotion and promised that they would grace the yagna with their presence.  The yagna was performed and the Divine couple showered many boons on the Rishi.

Finally they told him that in Kaliyuga, they would take birth three times in Bharadwaj gotra (lineage).  The first time Shiva would come alone and he came as Sai Baba of Shirdi.  The second time they would come in one body and they came in this body of Sathya Sai Baba.  The third time Shakti would come alone and would be known as Prema Sai Baba.  Shiva continued that when they took birth together in one body, Shakti would suffer for 8 days as Bharadwaj did, for expiation of her neglect.  That is why the left side of Swami's body suffered paralysis.  The immediate cause was waiting for the right occasion to play out his incident and reveal His real identity.

Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu

Sai Blossoms

"The mind has to be trained to develop a taste for the good and the godly, not for money and material gains.  Money comes and goes but morality comes and grows."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(March 17 1973) 

Happy Ram Navami

"There is no amruta (divine ambrosia) greater than Rama's Name. Today, people have forgotten nama chinthana (contemplating the divine Name). They repeat the names of cinemas, but they don't repeat God's Name. That is why the country is facing hardships. 

The educated, intellects and scientists don't think of God at all. Some people deem it below their dignity to apply vibhuti on their foreheads. They have it on their foreheads when they are at home and rub it off the moment they step outside. This has become a fashion! 

Why should one be afraid of chanting God's Name? Let people talk as they like. You don't need to be afraid. Spread the glory of Rama's Name in every nook and corner of the world. You can chant any Name of your choice  -  Rama, Krishna, Govinda, Siva, etc.

Since people have forgotten the divine Name, every home is in turmoil. There are conflicts even among brothers. Since there is no purity within, unsacred feelings have crept in. People are running after money and power. Can money and power give you protection? You find so many in this world who have plenty of money and occupy positions of authority. Are they able to enjoy peace and happiness? No, no. 

Only the divine Name can grant you peace and happiness. One who neglects God's Name is bound to be ruined."

(From Bhagawan's Ram Navami Discourse April 22 2002)

Ram Ram Bhajo Man Harey Harey

 

Ram Ram Bhajoman Hare Hare

Sai Ram Bhajoman Hare Hare

Raghupati Raja Rama Ram

Patita Pavana Sita Ram

Sai Ram Bhajoman Hare Hare

O mind! worship Lord Rama of the Raghu Dynasty. 

The Lord of Sita, Lord Rama, destroys sins and evil, uplifts and liberates the penitent.

Roots of Wisdom - To Let Go is to Gain

 

"To retreat is to advance, to let go is to gain.  Thus to retreat a step can mean an advance of a hundred steps."

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)

May All Living Beings in All the Worlds be Happy

 

Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

"Do not seek to exercise authority over others; seek rather to discover chances to be useful to them. When one neglects his duties, the positions of authority start causing headaches. Be a servant; a servant of God - then, all strength and joy will be added unto you. Try to be a master; then, you will arouse envy, hatred, anger and greed in every one around you. Feel that you are an instrument in His Hand; let Him shape you and use you as He knows best."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(SSS Vol. 8)