Gems of Wisdom

 

✍️ Peace Begins with Accepting What Is - Peace is already with us, quietly waiting. But we have forgotten it because we are too busy struggling against what is, wishing things were different, refusing to accept our circumstances as they are.

When we do not accept what is—when we fight reality, resist our circumstances, insist that things should be different before we can have peace—we cannot live peacefully in this present moment. We struggle in our minds, trapped between what is and what we wish would be.

And with that struggle, we cannot walk forward. We become stuck, frozen by our refusal to accept, unable to take the next step because we're too busy fighting the ground we're standing on.

This is true whether we have a little or a lot. If we hold just a bread in our hand and accept that this is what we have today, we can be at peace. We can breathe. We can take the next step. But if someone gives us gold and diamonds and we cannot accept that it's not more, we will always struggle, always suffer, always be unable to move forward.

It all depends on whether we can accept what is right here, right now.

Acceptance doesn't mean we stop working to improve our lives. It doesn't mean we pretend everything is fine or give up on change. It means we stop adding mental suffering to our circumstances by refusing to acknowledge them as they are. It means we make peace with this moment so we have the clarity and energy to move forward.

When we accept what is—simply acknowledging reality without resistance—something shifts. The struggle eases. Our minds quiet. And suddenly, we can see the path forward. We can take the next step with a calm heart instead of a turbulent mind.

Peace begins here, with accepting what is. Not fighting it. Not pretending it's different. Just accepting it with mindfulness, so we can walk peacefully forward from where we are.

May we all find the peace that comes from acceptance. May we stop struggling against what is and start walking peacefully from where we are.

May you and all beings be well, happy, and at peace.

(#WalkforPeace #BuddhistMonks #PeaceWalk)

Control Over Speech

"You should have control over your speech.  Excessive talk leads to untruth and unpleasantness.  That is why ancient saints and seers used to observe silence.  You can uphold truth and attain fame only by talking less.  Limited talk will confer happiness." 

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(February 10, 2000)

Baba's Storytime - Mother Kali Blesses Tenali Ramakrishna

 

Tenali Ramakrishna, the famous Andhra poet, humorist and philosopher, once happened to lose his way while traversing an area of thick jungle. You know that he lived in the reign of the famous emperor Krishnadeva Raja, of the Vijayanagara Dynasty, about 1500 A.D. He was attached to the court and was honored as a wise and quick-witted minister.

 While he was wandering desperately in the jungle, he saw an old sage. Ramakrishna ran forward and fell at his feet, in reverential homage, He asked the sage, how he got caught in that wild forest. The sage said, "The same mysterious force that dragged you here has dragged me too to this spot. The moment when I have to cast away the body I occupied so long, has arrived! I shall initiate you, now, into the mantra which I have recited all these years, as my talisman and treasure". It was the mantra of Mother Kâlî, and he whispered it into the ear of Ramakrishna.

Ramakrishna was overjoyed at the great gift; he retired into a temple of the Mother, deep in the recesses of the jungle and was intent on the meditation of the Mother, propitiated by the mantra. 

At midnight one day, the aboriginal Koyas of the forest came into the temple, with a goat which they sought to offer as sacrifice to please the goddess and propitiate Her. Ramakrishna hid behind the idol and when the knife was about to fall on the neck of the victim, he exclaimed, "I am the Mother of all living beings, including you. If you kill my child, I will curse you, I cannot bless you!" Believing that it was Kâlî that spoke, the Koyas desisted and went away.

Now, Kâlî manifested before Ramakrishna. She asked him, what he liked to receive from Her! She was pleased with his sâdhana. "Which do you want?" she queried, holding a plate of curds-rice in one hand and a plate of milk-rice in another. He wanted to know the consequences of eating either plate before deciding which plate to ask for. She explained, "The curds-rice will endow you with riches and economic prosperity; the milk-rice will make you a wise scholar. Now, make your choice". 

Ramakrishna thought within himself. "It is not good being a fool in possession of vast riches; nor will scholarship fill the stomach, three times a day." He was a clever person! So, he asked a further question: "I see two plates before me. Before I make the choice, tell me how each will taste".

Goddess Kâlî laughed and said, "How can I describe the taste and make you understand the difference? You will have to taste them yourself" and gave him both the plates for the purpose.

The clever Ramakrishna hastily put them both in his mouth and managed to swallow the curds and the milk, the entire quantity of rice from both plates!

Kâlî was indignant and exclaimed that his impertinence called for dire punishment. Ramakrishna accepted his mistake and invited the punishment she proposed to inflict. But can the Mother's punishment destroy the child, however reprehensible the conduct of the child may be? 

"My sentence will certainly save you, do not tremble", said Kâlî. Then she pronounced the sentence thus: "Become a Vikatakavi". That is to say, "Be a clever clown, having great influence at court, accumulating much wealth and guiding all those who approach you with good advice."

God loves those who have self-confidence and courage of conviction and who seize every opportunity to improve their spiritual status. 

May All Living Beings in All the Worlds be Happy

 

Divine Wisdom

 

Human Values

 

What are the three qualities that form the basis of human character？

"Embodiments of Love! Every individual who wants to progress in the field of spirituality should develop three virtues – purity, patience and perseverance. He is a blessed person who develops these three virtues, also called the three P’s. 

Man without character, education without a goal and human race without morality are worthless. The life of an individual bereft of peace is no better than a night without the moon. Listen! Oh valiant sons of Bharat! (Telugu Poem) 

In fact, a true human being is endowed with these threefold virtues. One who loses these virtues loses humanness. Since man today lacks these three virtues, he is more like an animal than a human being. He has only the form of a human but not the demeanour. Virtues are the life principle of man. Without virtues, he is lifeless. If you want to know the true meaning of humanness, you should first develop human values. Development of human values is, therefore, a must for all."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse -  June 24, 1996)

If we want to achieve success in the path of Spirituality, we have to follow the formulae of

purity, patience, and perseverance. – BABA

True Spiritual Wisdom

 

"What is spiritual wisdom (jyana)?  It is to know your own true Self.  That is true knowledge.  Self-knowledge is Self-realization.  Constant contemplation on the Self is the means of experiencing the direct vision of God."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(January 1, 1991)

Roots of Wisdom

"When one is studying or practising the Way, one has to be diligent.  Flowing water will eventually find its course just as a ripened fruit will fall to the ground."

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

Speechless

 

You have shown me such Splendorous Colours,

For which, even the Rainbow,

Is lost in thought.

You greeted me, with such Lovely Smiles

For which, even the Roses,

Have lost their charm.

You drove me into those Blissful Waves,

For which, even the Oceans,

Have lost its bay.

And You blessed me with so many splendid gifts,

For which I became speechless,

Even to express my gratitude.

~ Raja Sekhar Ganta ~

(From his book "108 Heart Beats")

Sai Blossoms

"What is spiritual wisdom?  Purity of thought, word and deed is true wisdom.  Your body, mind and actions must be pure.  On this basis, it is said, "The proper study of mankind is man."  It means that the unity of thought, word and deed is true humanness."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(November 23, 2002)