Life 48 (Feb 25 - Dec 26)

[winston]

What does the act of offering flowers to the Divine represent, and what should we be careful about while making the offering?

The flower symbolises the heart. Flowers are offered only to Him or those whom you revere.

The flower of the heart is subject to infestation by two evil creatures: One is ahamkara (self-conceit); the other is asuya (envy).

Self-conceit is based on eight different factors: wealth, physical prowess, birth, scholarship, beauty, power, youth and penance.

Of these, the arrogance born of wealth is to be despised most. As long as this ahamkara is predominant, it is impossible to recognise the Divine or one's spiritual reality.

Self-conceit is a great barrier between the individual and the Divine. It has to be utterly demolished.

All forms of pride, based on birth, wealth, power, scholarship and so on, have to be totally given up.

Only when egoistic pride is offered as a sacrifice at the altar of the Divine can man discover his true nature.

This is the dedication that is called for as the first step in the spiritual journey.

- Divine Discourse, Jan 16, 1988

Pride is the wall that hides the Atma from the Anatma, the curtain between Truth and Untruth.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why are discipline and discrimination important in life, especially for youngsters?

Discipline is most essential for students.

From the moment you wake up, carry out your morning ablutions, meditate on the Divine and do your prescribed duties in an orderly manner without deviating from regular routine.

Variations in routine are undesirable. You should not wake up at one hour on one day and at a different time on another day.

The day's activities should be regulated by the same schedule. Immediately after finishing the chores in the calm and serene atmosphere of the morning, one should devote at least a few minutes to the loving meditation on Him.

The human estate is based upon regulation and self-control. These must be strictly adhered to in daily life. Then comes Discrimination.

The world is a mixture of good and bad, of joy and sorrow, right and wrong, victory and defeat. In a world replete with such opposites, man must constantly make the choice between what is right and proper and what is wrong, undesirable.

Man should not let oneself be guided by the mind. He should follow the directions of the Buddhi (intelligence).

- Divine Discourse, Jan 16, 1988

Those who master the 5Ds - Dedication, Devotion, Discipline, Discrimination and Determination - are qualified to receive His love.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What are the three valuable riches we must ensure we gather?

Good conduct, good qualities and an exemplary character, are the most valuable riches one can possess.

But men today have given up these three and are seeking worldly goods and immersed in their own concerns, are imagining that they are leading pious lives.

The Divine cannot be attained through such delusions.

All the teachings one listens to, the books one studies and the education one receives, are only serving to nourish these delusions and not helping men to seek the Divine.

To realise the Divine, one has to get rid of these delusions.

All education today, aims only at preparing students for worldly purposes.

Think of the great sages and renowned men of the past, who did not have this education but who led such exemplary lives!

What great things are you going to achieve by pursuing these studies during all your waking hours, merely for earning a living, while forgetting the Divine?

- Divine Discourse, May 29, 1988

Man today is trying to master every kind of knowledge but is unable to discover his own true nature.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is liberation and when can we experience it?

In this world, there are sons who disrespect their parents. They do not recognise that parents gave them birth and brought them up with many sacrifices and discomfort.

They hurt their parents on one hand and pray to the Divine on the other. This cannot be called true devotion at all.

Can they attain liberation with this type of devotion?

What is liberation? Fools think that merging with Him after death is liberation. But it is not so.

Eliminating all worries and being happy thereby is true liberation. It is satisfying the hunger of the poor and giving succour to the needy.

Mukti (liberation) is to cast away one’s difficulties, sorrows, worries, attachments and secure happiness, comfort, peace and bliss.

It is not any separate destination to reach. To remove the anxiety of everyone and fill their hearts with supreme peace is mukti. To be freed from one’s worries is mukti.

Mukti, which is so simple, subtle and within the reach of everyone, is being ignored by man. He craves for mukti after death. But mukti should be experienced when one is still alive.

- Divine Discourse, Oct 02, 2000

Liberation means achieving selfless love that is constant, unabating and total.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What can we do to overcome insecurity and develop peace and security?

You know the chaotic condition the world is in today. Disorder and violence are rampant everywhere. Peace and security are not to be found anywhere.

Where is peace to be found? It is within us. Security is also within us.

How is insecurity to be removed and security secured? By giving up desires.

In the language of ancients, this was termed Vairagya (giving up attachment). This does not mean giving up home and family and retiring to the forest. It is simply a reduction of wants.

As a householder, limit your desires to the needs of the family! As a student, stick to your studies. As a professional, adhere to the duties of your profession.

Man is raked by numerous troubles because he has no confidence in the Self. Aspirants on the spiritual path are bound to face troubles caused by six enemies - lust, anger, greed, infatuation, pride and envy. One must overcome them.

- Divine Discourse, Aug 23, 1995

Rely on the Divine rather than on things which are dependent on Him.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is our true identity, and why do we forget it?

If anybody accosts a person and asks him, “Who are you?”, out of his identification with the body, he gives his name in reply.

In answer to further questions, he introduces himself as a doctor, a farmer, a student or the like.

When the enquiry goes further, he identifies himself with his nationality as an American, an Indian, a Pakistani and so on.

When you examine these answers deeply, you will find that none of them gives the truth.

He got his name from his parents. It did not belong to him at birth.

His identification with one or other of his professions is not true because he is not the profession.

What then is the truth about him? “I am the Atma (Inner Self). That is my true Self.”

That is the truth. But people identify themselves with their names, professions, and nationality and do not base their lives on the Atma.

No driver of a car identifies with the car. Likewise, the body is a car, and the Atma is the driver.

Forgetting one’s true role as a driver, one identifies one’s self with the body, which is only a vehicle.

- Divine Discourse, Aug 23, 1995

It is only when one dissociates himself from name and form that he can discover his true divine self.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What really is freedom or independence?

Man today wants limitless freedom. What exactly is freedom?

The end of wisdom is freedom. The end of culture is perfection. The end of knowledge is love. The end of education is character.

Man’s humanness is on the decline because he is losing all these four qualities day by day.

What is svechchha (self-will)? It is individual will but one should accept victory and defeat, success and failure with equal-mindedness.

Aspiring success and detesting failure does not constitute svechchha.

Real freedom lies in considering happiness and sorrow equally. The same truth is propounded in the Scriptures: One should remain equal-minded in happiness and sorrow, gain and loss, victory and defeat.

Suppose you have invited a friend to your house, can you allow only his face, and ask his feet to get out?

Humanness lies in the equality of both. Welcome both good and bad, success and failure, fame and disrepute with equanimity.

This is the right way of experiencing svechchha.

- Divine Discourse, May 08, 1997

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the purpose of the Divine Descent?

When the Divine comes down as Avatar, it is only for one purpose!

You recognise only momentary results of the advent. But you should note that the Divine comes as Avatar, only to teach mankind the truth about love.

“Oh man, it is because you lack love and are filled with selfishness, that the world is plunging into so much conflict and chaos. It is only when you develop love and the spirit of sacrifice, that you will realise the divinity that is in the human.”

The man who has no spirit of tyaga (sacrifice) will be a prey to all ills. A man without love is a living corpse. It is love and sacrifice which make man divine.

Love alone is the fruit of love. Love is its own witness. There is no trace of self-interest in it.

Because love exists for its own sake, it has no fear.

It is to teach humanity the way of love that Avatars come into the world.

- Divine Discourse, Sep 3, 1988

It is to show to humanity how human lives can be divinised that Avatars come from time to time.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why is it important to remain positive and have an attitude of acceptance even when we are subjected to negativity from those around us?

Every Avatar has two causes:
1. The prayers of devotees and
2. The atrocities of wicked people.

The unity of these two is essential for an Avatar.

These two factors must be present for every Avatar’s advent: wickedness and devotion.

- Summer Showers, May 21, 1995

Every trouble is really a step in elevating man.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

In India, we follow the tradition of commencing important programs and events with the lighting of the lamp. What is the significance of this practice?

Prior to the commencement of this meeting, the jyoti (sacred lamp) was lit.

No other thing signifies divinity as this sacred, effulgent flame. It always goes upward. It can be kept anywhere. Everywhere it is lit, it dispels darkness.

Since ancient times, the people of Bharat have been observing the sacred custom of lighting a lamp at the commencement of any auspicious ceremony. They have been worshipping the jyoti as it dispels darkness and is a symbol of the effulgence of wisdom.

Such a sacred custom, which is an immemorial part of Indian culture, is ignored today.

People indulge in practices which are contrary to such traditions. If you understand the significance of this custom and the spirit behind the lighting of the lamp, you can understand Divinity.

In order to light the jyoti, you need four things—a container, oil, a wick and a matchstick (fire) to light it.

Similarly, for dispelling the darkness within you, you need the jyoti of Wisdom. Only by the light of the Divine lamp inside can you blossom as a worthwhile person.

Inner purity is the greatest wealth that one can acquire. The inner purity is the wick in the container of the heart. Devotion is the oil, and Divine Grace is the fire with which the lamp of wisdom can be lit.

The prime requisite for achieving Divine Grace is to have harmony in thought, word and deed.

- Divine Discourse, Jul 08, 1995

If you earn the love of the Divine even to the slightest extent, you will experience infinite joy.

Source: radiosai.org