Life 48 (Feb 25 - Dec 26)

[winston]

How should we approach the sadhana of contemplating on a "Name of the Divine" and what should we supplement it with?

To realise the Divine, the only easy method is chanting the Name.

There are, of course, many great ones who chant the name of the Divine incessantly.

There are many others who recite the Name for days, months, and years but this affects no change in them.

What is the reason for this? All their sense organs function with the feeling: "I am the body”.

Those who utter the name of the Divine while being immersed in the body consciousness cannot realise the Divine, however long their penance may last.

People belonging to different faiths and cultures pursue various spiritual practices according to their different backgrounds.

When they find that these practices have not produced the results they expected, out of frustration or disappointment, they go after a different form of worship or a different faith.

Spiritual change cannot come merely by chanting a different name or even adopting a different creed.

Divine grace is not secured by a change of faith. It is the mati (mind) that has to undergo a change, not one's matam (religion).

By merely changing the garments you wear, you cannot acquire divine qualities.

Virtues have to be cultivated. Only the person who transforms his character can sublimate himself.

- Divine Discourse, Jun 21, 1989.

The body can be cleaned by water. But the heart can be cleaned only by chanting the Divine's name.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Are we doing enough as messengers? What must we do to serve Him better?

You are trying through various means to live and spread the ideals and the principle of love.

How far have these efforts succeeded? How much good has it done to the world? How much has it helped in recognising the humanness in man?

Along with the process of listening to the exposition of the ideals and of the message, they must be practiced in daily life. Only then can you declare that you grasped the meaning and purpose of ideals.

Everyone must become the embodiment of love. The principle of love can be promoted only through love. The absence of love is at the root of the anarchy that stalks the world today.

Unchecked self-interest, misdirected activity, the wild antics of the ego, pompous living and the feeling of envy have caused this monstrous situation.

Do not allow even a trace of ego, pomp, or immorality, to pollute your actions. These three qualities strengthen the feeling of selfishness.

Peace and prosperity can dawn on the world only when you move in society with love, that is free from the taint of selfishness.

- Divine Discourse, Nov 19, 1980

Whatever spiritual discipline you may practise or not, cultivate love for all. Offer that love as a divine offering to all.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

During festivals, we listen to talks by Pandits and great devotees. What must we internalise from such discourses?

The discourses of the Pandits are only reminders; they have to kindle the thought-process in the listeners; then only they can be considered beneficial.

In fact, the truth regarding Divine, Man, Nature, etc., is so simple that a few minutes of quiet contemplation, can reveal it to anyone of ordinary intelligence.

Everyone will admit that anything which undergoes change, cannot be the truth.

Truth must remain as truth, in the past, present, and future.

The world and all objects of Nature, are constantly being subjected to change — building up or breaking down, evolving or mutating, flowing or festering, growing or dying. How can it be true then?

The subjective feelings, attitudes, impulses, beliefs, instincts, intuitions — these too are changing; they are pleasant one moment, unpleasant the next moment; the same thing is welcome at one time, repulsive at another time;

Malaria makes sweet things turn bitter; jaundice turns all things yellow. So, there must be something stable and permanent and eternal as the background, the base, the foundation, for this changing scene to appear on.

Appearance is untrue; reality is eternal.

- Divine Discourse, Oct 04, 1965

Only the Divine is your eternal friend. He will never leave you; He will never let you down.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

As we observe the holy festivals, what resolve can we make to improve ourselves?

On this sacred day, take an oath to give up vices such as smoking, drinking and partaking of non-vegetarian food. Many do not realise the evil effects of these bad habits.

If a smoker blows air on a white handkerchief, he will find yellow spots on it. This is a sign of disease. Smoking leads to cancer.

Drinking is a demonic quality. It makes you intoxicated and forget yourself.

Consuming non-vegetarian food is also a bad quality. When the human body itself is made of flesh, where is the need to consume the flesh of birds and animals? You should partake of only sacred food. Only then will you have sacred feelings.

For sacred thoughts and sacred deeds, sacred food is essential.

In order to have sacred feelings, apart from partaking of sacred food, you also need to have sacred vision.

Do not cast bad looks on anybody. Do not speak ill of others. Do not hear anything that is bad. Do not entertain bad thoughts. Do not indulge in bad deeds. Do not hurt anybody. More than this, there is nothing else that one needs to do to improve one’s own Self.

- Divine Discourse, Oct 1, 1998

All acts of ours must be elevated to the level of Yajna, offering to the Divine. That is to be the goal, the consummation.

Source: radiosai.org