Offer God real flowers grown in the garden of your heart ~ Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
"Though the objective world appears real, one must be aware that it is deluding us. As a result, one must give up the yearning to derive pleasure from the objects that appear and attract, both here and hereafter. One is liberated as soon as one renounces all attachment and desires."
~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Sutra Vahini, Preface)
There was a monk once who as the first two steps in ascetic practice decided on two vows: 1. Not to injure any living thing and 2. Not to speak falsehood. While he was engaged in meditation under a tree in the thick jungle, invoking the aid of God to confirm him in these two vows, he saw a beautiful deer running in terror from some hunters and taking refuge in a bower behind his hermitage. The hunters came to him seconds later. They asked him about the whereabouts of the deer.
The poor monk was in a fix. If he told them that he saw it entering the bower, they would catch it and kill it. That would go against his first vow. If he told them that he did not know its whereabouts, it would be against his second vow. He avoided breaking both his vows in a very clever way.
He said: "The eye that sees cannot speak. The tongue that speaks cannot see. I cannot compel the eye to speak nor the tongue to see".
The hunters went away quietly and the deer was saved. The monk had not uttered falsehood.
(From the Divine Discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)
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When someone insults you or tries to provoke you, the real test is not their behavior - it is your reaction.
The mind is compared to a flame. When someone throws anger toward you, it is like throwing a spark. If the mind is dry with ego and pride, the fire spreads instantly. But if the mind is calm and aware, the spark simply fades.
Anger only grows when it is accepted and returned. If someone offers you a gift and you refuse it, the gift remains with the giver. The same is true with insults.
Being easily offended gives others power over your emotions. They can move your mind like a puppet simply by saying the right words.
But when the mind is steady, insults lose their force.
Take a breath.
Observe the emotion.
Let the ego soften.
True strength is not reacting to every provocation - it is mastering the mind that wants to react.
A peaceful mind cannot be easily controlled by others.
Samastha Lokha Sukhino Bhavanthu
"When you reach the bank of a river in a strange land, you do not take advice from a lame person or a blind person, where you can best wade across. You follow a person who has waded often, and who is neither lame nor blind. The man who can see is the scholar; the man who can walk is the person with experience. The man with both capacities is a good guide, not those who prattle things learnt from the books or dole out set formulae, irrespective of stage the recipient has reached, or roam about in search of people whom they can squeeze for money."
~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(SSS Vol. 8)
"The tongue has been given to speak the truth, to expound on what is sacred and pure. The tongue has not been given to man to pamper the palate with delicious sweets. It is not given for talking as one likes. It is not to be used for causing displeasure to others, nor is is to be used for indulging in falsehood. The tongue has been given to man to speak the truth, to be sweet to others, to praise the divine, and to enjoy the bliss derived from such sacred speech."
~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(February 5, 1998)
When man makes mind his master
It burdens him, worse than any beast;
When man makes buddhi his master
It raises him, high as Lord of the Living.
Will the good, and you are happy.
Will the bad, and you are sad and lost.
Don't will at all, and be at peace
This is the Truth, the Word of Sai.
~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
What is God’s gift to you and me? What is the return gift He expects from you and me?
"You cannot attain God by your wealth. He is to be attained only through devotion.
Satyabhama, in her pride, hoped to possess Krishna all for herself by her wealth. She wanted to weigh Him against the huge amount of gold she possessed. But, she failed. Narada made her realise her folly by showing that a single leaf of Tulasi (basil) offered by Rukmini with real devotion exceeded all the wealth of Satyabhama.
Satyabhama symbolises desire, while Rukmini represents devotion. Krishna says that He is pleased with the offering of a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water. Do not take this literally. The body is the leaf, the flower is the flower of your heart, your mind is the fruit, and the tears of joy constitute the water which is the acceptable offering to God.
Embodiments of Love! You will have everything in life if you have love in you. Do not hate anybody. This should be the main ideal of your life. This is My message for you."
~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - November 23, 2000)
Without resorting to extravagant adulation of God, not seeking petty favours from God, yearn for God alone, and you will get everything. – BABA
"Devotion and faith are the two oars with which you can take the boat across the sea of worldly life A child told its mother when it went to bed at night, "Mother! Wake me up when I get hungry." The mother answered, "There is no need, your hunger will itself wake you." So too, when the hunger for God comes, it will itself awake you and make you seek the food you need."
~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(February 20, 1955)
