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.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, August 24, 2009
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.
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.
Realise your Divinity
He who considers himself free is free indeed, and he who considers
himself bound remains bound. Constantly think yourself as being
eternal, unlimited, Consciousness-Bliss, and you will be free and
happy. So long as you trap yourself in body consciousness you are like
a lion moping about in a musty cave. Do not feel satisfied by
saying, 'I am the body'. Roar and say, 'I am the Universal Absolute. I
am all that is, was and will be.' Pettiness, ego, time and space - all
will flee from your heart and you will realise your own Divinity.
himself bound remains bound. Constantly think yourself as being
eternal, unlimited, Consciousness-Bliss, and you will be free and
happy. So long as you trap yourself in body consciousness you are like
a lion moping about in a musty cave. Do not feel satisfied by
saying, 'I am the body'. Roar and say, 'I am the Universal Absolute. I
am all that is, was and will be.' Pettiness, ego, time and space - all
will flee from your heart and you will realise your own Divinity.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Divinity in self
He who considers himself free is free indeed, and he who considers
himself bound remains bound. Constantly think yourself as being
eternal, unlimited, Consciousness-Bliss, and you will be free and
happy. So long as you trap yourself in body consciousness you are like
a lion moping about in a musty cave. Do not feel satisfied by
saying, 'I am the body'. Roar and say, 'I am the Universal Absolute. I
am all that is, was and will be.' Pettiness, ego, time and space - all
will flee from your heart and you will realise your own Divinity.
himself bound remains bound. Constantly think yourself as being
eternal, unlimited, Consciousness-Bliss, and you will be free and
happy. So long as you trap yourself in body consciousness you are like
a lion moping about in a musty cave. Do not feel satisfied by
saying, 'I am the body'. Roar and say, 'I am the Universal Absolute. I
am all that is, was and will be.' Pettiness, ego, time and space - all
will flee from your heart and you will realise your own Divinity.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Bkakthi in Shanthi
Believe firmly that the body is the residence of God, that the food
you eat is the offering you make to your deity; that bathing is the
ceremonial bathing of the Divine Spirit in you; the ground you walk
upon is His domain; the joy you derive is His gift; the grief you
experience is His lesson that you tread the path more carefully.
Remember Him at all times; many people think of God only when grief
overtakes them; of course, it is good to do so; it is better than
seeking the help of those who are also equally liable to grief. But,
it is infinitely better to think of God in grief and in joy, in peace
and strife. The proof of rain is in the wetness of the ground; the
proof of Bhakthi (devotion) is in the Shanti (equanimity) the bhaktha
(devotee) has, Shanthi which protects him against the onslaughts of
success and failure, fame and dishonour, gain and loss.
you eat is the offering you make to your deity; that bathing is the
ceremonial bathing of the Divine Spirit in you; the ground you walk
upon is His domain; the joy you derive is His gift; the grief you
experience is His lesson that you tread the path more carefully.
Remember Him at all times; many people think of God only when grief
overtakes them; of course, it is good to do so; it is better than
seeking the help of those who are also equally liable to grief. But,
it is infinitely better to think of God in grief and in joy, in peace
and strife. The proof of rain is in the wetness of the ground; the
proof of Bhakthi (devotion) is in the Shanti (equanimity) the bhaktha
(devotee) has, Shanthi which protects him against the onslaughts of
success and failure, fame and dishonour, gain and loss.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Cling to God
Attachment causes pain, and detachment results in joy. But, you cannot
easily detach yourself from activity; the mind clings to something or
the other. Make it cling to God, let it perform all actions for God and
leave the success or failure, the loss and the profit, the elation or
the dejection, to God. This is the secret of Shanti (Peace) and
contentment.
easily detach yourself from activity; the mind clings to something or
the other. Make it cling to God, let it perform all actions for God and
leave the success or failure, the loss and the profit, the elation or
the dejection, to God. This is the secret of Shanti (Peace) and
contentment.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Detachment
The mind must become the servant of the intellect, not the slave of
the senses. It must discriminate and detach itself from
identification with the body. The kernel of the ripe tamarind fruit
is not attached to the outer shell; likewise the mind must be
unattached to this shell called the body. Strike an unripe tamarind
fruit with a stone and you cause harm to the pulp inside; but, when
you strike the ripe fruit it is the dry rind that falls off; nothing
affects the pulp or the seed. The mature aspirant does not feel the
blows of fate or fortune; it is the unripe one who is wounded by
every blow.
the senses. It must discriminate and detach itself from
identification with the body. The kernel of the ripe tamarind fruit
is not attached to the outer shell; likewise the mind must be
unattached to this shell called the body. Strike an unripe tamarind
fruit with a stone and you cause harm to the pulp inside; but, when
you strike the ripe fruit it is the dry rind that falls off; nothing
affects the pulp or the seed. The mature aspirant does not feel the
blows of fate or fortune; it is the unripe one who is wounded by
every blow.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Attaining Bliss
Man is a prisoner of his senses as long as the feelings of 'I'
and 'mine' remain. Man strays into misery and pain, because he aspires
for the temporary and the trivial. He ignores the voice of God that
warns and guides from within, and pays the penalty for the
transgression. Life is to be dedicated not to mere food and drink and
catering to the cravings of the senses. It has to be devoted to the
attainment of the bliss that God alone can confer.
and 'mine' remain. Man strays into misery and pain, because he aspires
for the temporary and the trivial. He ignores the voice of God that
warns and guides from within, and pays the penalty for the
transgression. Life is to be dedicated not to mere food and drink and
catering to the cravings of the senses. It has to be devoted to the
attainment of the bliss that God alone can confer.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Embodiment of Peace
The proof of rain is in the wetness of the ground. Likewise, the proof
of true devotion is in the peace of mind that the aspirant has been
able to attain - the peace that protects him against the onslaught of
failures and disappointments, the stillness of mind which is not
agitated by loss and dishonour or perturbed by anger, jealousy and
other lower passions. Know that you are the embodiment of that peace.
Whoever has the determination, discrimination, steadfastness and the
earnestness to reach the goal will reach it.
of true devotion is in the peace of mind that the aspirant has been
able to attain - the peace that protects him against the onslaught of
failures and disappointments, the stillness of mind which is not
agitated by loss and dishonour or perturbed by anger, jealousy and
other lower passions. Know that you are the embodiment of that peace.
Whoever has the determination, discrimination, steadfastness and the
earnestness to reach the goal will reach it.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Nature of Money
With faith in the omnipresence of the Divine, man should engage
himself in good deeds, cherish good thoughts and dedicate his life
to good practices. His words should be words of truth. The ornaments
he should wear are the necklace of truthful speech, the earrings of
listening to sacred lore and the bracelet of charity. Money is of
the nature of manure. Piled up in one place, it pollutes the air.
Spread it wide, scatter it over fields, it rewards you with a bumper
harvest. So too, when money is spent for promoting good works, it
yields contentment and happiness in plenty.
himself in good deeds, cherish good thoughts and dedicate his life
to good practices. His words should be words of truth. The ornaments
he should wear are the necklace of truthful speech, the earrings of
listening to sacred lore and the bracelet of charity. Money is of
the nature of manure. Piled up in one place, it pollutes the air.
Spread it wide, scatter it over fields, it rewards you with a bumper
harvest. So too, when money is spent for promoting good works, it
yields contentment and happiness in plenty.
Love is expansion
You wear coloured glasses and see everything through those glasses.
Correct your vision; the world will get corrected. Reform yourselves
and the world will get reformed. You create the world of your
choice. You see many, because you seek the many, not the One. Try to
subsume the many in the One - first the family, then the community,
the state, the nation and finally the world. Thus, progressively
march on towards more and more inclusive loyalties and reach the
stage of universality in thought, word and deed. This is the Sadhana
(spiritual endeavour) of Love, for, Love is expansion. The
individual has to be Universalised and expanded into Vishwaroopa
(the cosmic form of the Divine).
Correct your vision; the world will get corrected. Reform yourselves
and the world will get reformed. You create the world of your
choice. You see many, because you seek the many, not the One. Try to
subsume the many in the One - first the family, then the community,
the state, the nation and finally the world. Thus, progressively
march on towards more and more inclusive loyalties and reach the
stage of universality in thought, word and deed. This is the Sadhana
(spiritual endeavour) of Love, for, Love is expansion. The
individual has to be Universalised and expanded into Vishwaroopa
(the cosmic form of the Divine).
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
What is the basis for a divine life?
The basis for a spiritual, God-based life is the indwelling Spirit - the Aathman (Divine soul). The body is the home of Spirit. Life in society should also conform to this spiritual basis. Man, however, bases his life on the belief that the body alone is real. It is to rid him of this error that he has to be taught about Spirit. Mankind has to realize that both the individual and society are manifestations of the Divine Will and that the Divine permeates the Universe. Only by recognizing this Truth can man give up his ego and lead a life of devotion to duty. Society should not become a cockpit of selfish individuals, but a community of divinely guided Individuals.
- Divine Discourse, October 31, 1983.
Develop love of God, fear of sin and morality in society. - Baba
Monday, August 3, 2009
When can we call ourselves truly human?
What is it that people need today? These are three things: A heart pure and white like the moon, speech soft and sweet like butter, a face that is loving and kind. Today, on the contrary, people are hardhearted... There is harshness in speech, and no softness in their hearts. Fill your hearts with compassion. Let your speech be sweet and truthful. You will then be truly human.
- Divine Discourse, May 15, 1997.
- Divine Discourse, May 15, 1997.
Only he is a true human being who recognises the indwelling divinity within the shrine of his body. - Baba
Body-Mind-Soul Dynamics
Swami beautifully explains to us today the body-mind-soul dynamics that operates within each of us.
The body, the mind and the Aathma (soul) - all three are involved in the human entity. They are inextricably interdependent. When they become disparate, life loses its meaning. When the body is subject to the mind and the mind is controlled by the soul, life finds fulfillment. When the body alone is predominant, the human descends to the level of the animal. When the mind prevails over the body and the sensory organs, the human level is attained. When the spirit prevails over the mind and the body, Divinity is realized.
- Divine Discourse, September 28, 1984.
The body, the mind and the Aathma (soul) - all three are involved in the human entity. They are inextricably interdependent. When they become disparate, life loses its meaning. When the body is subject to the mind and the mind is controlled by the soul, life finds fulfillment. When the body alone is predominant, the human descends to the level of the animal. When the mind prevails over the body and the sensory organs, the human level is attained. When the spirit prevails over the mind and the body, Divinity is realized.
- Divine Discourse, September 28, 1984.
The inner meaning of all spiritual disciplines is to make man realise his true nature. - Baba
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)