Jungle

This world is the jungle in which you roam; fear is the lion which
drives you up the tree of samsara (worldly activities). Anxiety is
the bear that terrifies you and dogs your every step in this world,
so you slide down into attachments and binding deeds through the
twin roots of hope and despair. Day and night are the rats which
nibble away at the span of life. Meanwhile, you try to snatch a
little joy from the sweet drops of egoism and the 'I' feeling.
Finding at last that the drops do not give true fulfillment, you
shout in the agony of renunciation, calling on the Guru; the Guru
appears from within or without, and saves you from fear and anxiety.

Sadhana

Sadhana (spiritual discipline) determines the character of a person
and character in turn determines one's destiny. Character is
cultivated by performing good actions. Actions are based on one's
thoughts and intentions. Whenever any thought arises in the mind,
one should examine whether it is right or wrong, whether it will
benefit society or cause harm. Actions should be based on such
enquiry. It is wrong to blame anyone for our misfortunes. Our
thoughts and actions alone are responsible for our plight. If one
entertains pure thoughts and does all actions with firm faith in
God, one will be favoured with God's Grace.

Sense of Control

What man needs today is not Siddhantam (ideology). Instead, he needs
sense-control. Without control of the senses, a man cannot become
spiritual. This was proclaimed by Saint Thyagaraja in his song wherein
he said that without peace of the Spirit there can be no happiness for
any one, whether he is a scholar or an novice. Only through self-
control can a man experience peace.

- BABA

How can we easily transform our lives into instances of happiness and peace?

When you spend your hours in thoughts about God, you are also free from evil ways. You will not be tempted to abuse others or harm them in any way. You live in Love, accepting all the events of life as His Gifts. Homes, where people live in such a manner, really speaking, are heavens on earth. Hearts dedicated to these noble ideals are indeed 'golden.' They cannot be tarnished by the ups and downs of life; they can remain unaffected and pure.

- Divine Discourse, March 9, 1974

Faith in God...

When you know that you are but a spark of the Divine and that
everything around you too is a spark of the same Divine principle,
you look upon all with reverence and true Love; your heart is filled
with supreme joy and the assertions of the ego are rendered
ineffective. Man seeks joy in far off places and peace in quiet
spots; but, the spring of joy is in his heart, the heaven of peace is
within him. Even when he walks on the moon man has to take with him
his fears, his anxieties, his prejudices and his aversions. Have
faith in God and in the correctness of moral living. Then, you can
have peace and joy, whatever may be the fare fortune offers you.

Dharma

The word 'Dharma', which is really bound up with an infinite variety of
meanings, is regarded in common usage as referring to actions like
charity, performing good deeds, going on pilgrimages and discharging
one's duties, etc. But these relate only to external actions. Dharma is
eternal, the same for everyone, everywhere. It expresses the
significance of the inner Atma. The birth place of Dharma is the heart.
What emanates from the heart as a pure idea, when translated into
action is Dharma. The true Dharma of every human being is to make every
endeavour to realize the Divine; Dharma should lead to Self-
realization.

Attaining Peace

The best Sadhana (spiritual practice) is to behave as you do when you
get a parcel of books by post. To get at the books you unwrap the
parcel and throw off the packing material. Now, take the prayer that is
the deepest and the most significant - 'I want Peace'. Unwrap it of
the 'I' (the ego) and of the 'want' (desire) and get hold of Shanti
(Peace). When you are burdened with egoism and desire, how can you
attain Shanti? So, throw away the outer covering and hold on to the
precious essence that remains.