Life 49 (Nov 25 - Dec 27)

[winston]

What are the special gifts each human life is endowed with and what is the consummation these must be used for?

Most men spend the lifetime allotted to them or earned by them in the partaking of rich but harmful food and drink and indulge in glamorous but more harmful pastimes. What a pathetic waste of precious stuff!

Though belonging to the animal genus, man has much more than his fellow beings in physical, mental and moral equipment.

He has memory, language, conscience, reverence, awe, wonder and an inexplicable sense of discontent, the precursor of detachment.

He has the glorious chance of visualising his identity with the Mystery that is manifested as this universe. But he is so sunk in ignorance, that he behaves as though he is an animal like the rest and wallows in grief and vice.

It is as if fire has forgotten its capacity to burn or water its nature to wet; man has forgotten his nature to reach out into Divinehood, his capacity to seek and secure the truth of the universe of which he is a part, his capacity to train himself by virtue, justice, love and sympathy to escape from the particular to the universal.

Man can indeed attain the consummation and climax of merging with the unchanging that is behind all this change.

- Divine Discourse, Jul 02, 1966

Uncontrolled living habits, unrestrained social behaviour — these are extolled as signs of freedom. It is only freedom to slide into the animal from which man has risen.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

How should we deal with obstacles on the spiritual path? What do they indicate to us?

While practising sadhana, one must follow the rules laid down in scriptures or follow the commands of the Guru or that of the Divine.

While following these rules or commands, one should not worry whatever obstacles come.

Continue with one’s prescribed sadhana and achieve success, even at the cost of one’s life.

Some people say that they are following His commands but they are facing many obstacles in their sadhana. This is not the correct attitude.

In fact, if one follows His instructions carefully and correctly, no obstacles will come. If obstacles come, it means one has not followed the commands correctly!

Before undertaking sadhana, there are certain things which one should know. Sadhana refers to an activity undertaken for achieving one’s goal or purpose in life.

The sadhaka has to decide what he wants to achieve, what his purpose is. Then sadhana has to be carried on until one achieves that goal.

If one undertakes sadhana without knowing these aspects, one will falter, and face obstacles and problems. Then one may lose faith in the guru, which could result in a total fall and destruction of oneself.

So, one must be very careful about doing sadhana.

- Divine Discourse, Jul 07, 1985

Both enquiry and Sadhana are needed to discover the Divinity latent in you and to manifest it.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What are the common obstacles for aspirants in the path of meditation and how are they to be dealt with?

Pride, conceit, passionate (rajasik) exhibition of one’s superiority, anger, craving to know unsubstantiated details of strengths and weaknesses of others, trickery — all these are obstacles in the path of meditation (dhyanam).

Even if these are not patently exhibited, the inner impulses (vasanas) urging one along these wrong directions, are latent in the mind.

As a room kept closed for a long time is found dust-ridden and foul-smelling when it is opened and as it becomes clean and habitable, after elaborate sweeping and dusting.

So too, the mind must be completely cleansed of its impurities (malinya) by the power of meditation.

The spiritual aspirant must, by inward observation, examine the mind and its contents and condition.

By proper disciplinary habits, accumulated impurities should be removed little by little, systematically.

Conceit is deep-rooted and unyielding. In the rajasik (passionate) mind, it puts forth multifold branches in all directions and spreads everywhere.

It might appear to be dry and dead for some time but it will sprout again easily.

As soon as a chance arises for its exhibition, it will raise its hood.

- Dhyana Vahini, Ch 14

If we are able to control anger, we shall be in a position to attain merit through the utterance of His name.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why is giving up doubts and developing faith, very important?

A river has two banks. But for this, the river may flow in all directions, flooding the fields and villages and causing untold hardship and disaster. If it has the bunds to regulate the course of flow, it will be useful for irrigation.

In a similar manner, the river of life, has to be contained between the two bunds of the eight-lettered axioms.

The meaning of the first one is - “It is only by faith that one attains wisdom”, and the second one means - “A person who doubts everything will perish.”

So long as one has doubt, one cannot achieve anything. If a person has no doubt and has full faith, he can achieve anything.

The river of human life flowing between these two bunds reaches the goal of grace successfully.

A tree that needs water is provided water only at the root. Though the root is not visible to your eyes as it is buried under the earth, it is the basis for the tree to thrive. If the root is dry, the tree becomes dead.

Therefore, you have to safeguard the root. Similarly, you have to safeguard the root of life. Otherwise, it will get extinct.

The root of life is to kill doubt.

- Divine Discourse, Apr 23, 1998

You have to deposit the money of faith and pure love, in the Divine bank. Only then can you get the wealth of Divine grace.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Anger is a common emotion most of us experience. Why should we be vigilant to fix it systemically and completely? How?

Regarding anger, the spiritual aspirant has to be vigilant even about the most minor matters that might provoke him, for if he is careless, he cannot progress in the least.

Such persons must cultivate "gentle loving spirit". Then, the bad traits will diminish.

Some aspirants become angrier still when someone discovers and announces to them the bad traits they possess. This makes matters worse!

The sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) must always have the inward look; if he allows his mind to wander outward, he can never identify his own faults.

Pride prevents the inward look and distracts the mind.

When the aspirant is desirous of achieving success, he must gladly accept when someone points out his faults and he must endeavour to rectify his faults and not repeat those any longer.

That is the way to progress quick and fast on the path of meditation, and experience ananda (bliss).

- Dhyana Vahini, Ch 14

When anger is subdued, it is an indication that your Sadhana is on the right path.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What are the subtle truths that are conveyed through the iconography of divine vahanas or vehicles, in Indian culture?

To inculcate the truth of spirituality, you can take the example of animals, which get sanctity and become objects of worship when they are in the company of the Divine.

The snake, when it is around the neck of Lord Shiva, is worshipped by all. When it is encountered elsewhere, people do not hesitate even to kill it.

Similarly, the mouse, which is the vehicle of Vinayaka, is an object of worship when it is with Vinayaka, but when it is seen in your house, you trap it and try to do away with it.

This teaches the lesson that when we are in the company of the Divine, we are held in high esteem.

Just as the limbs are part of our body, we are all the limbs of the body of the cosmic form. The cosmic form is of thousands of heads, feet, hands and eyes. All the bodies of beings are His.

If we develop strong faith in this, we can understand Divinity in its true spirit.

When we see the Bull in the Shiva temple made of stone, we worship it. When we see a bull in our everyday life, we do not hesitate even to hit it. This is due to the ignorance of man who does not see the Divine in every being.

He is in every being, from an ant to an elephant!

- Divine Discourse, Apr 23, 1998

If we can really understand the secret of creation around us, our minds will not go after the attractions of the material world. There is nothing more wonderful or awe-inspiring than His creation.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

As spiritual aspirants, what is the mental attitude we must try and develop, first and foremost?

The individual full of Aham (I-ness) loves to exercise authority over others. He will not like listening to others. Even if the others’ counsel is good for him, due to his stubbornness, he will not like it.

Such individuals see everything through ‘a jaundiced eye’, coloured by the smoke of self-conceit. “My words are true,” “My opinion is correct,” “My deeds are right,” they feel, and thus they spend their days in such stubbornness!

Such behaviour is very harmful for sadhakas (spiritual aspirants). The sadhaka must be eagerly looking forward to any helpful criticism or suggestion, or advice from any quarter. When he makes any mistake, he should not try to justify himself.

It can lead to unwarranted argumentations and if he does not succeed in arguments, it will lead to vengeful fighting.

Do not struggle to earn the esteem of the world. Do not feel humiliated or angry when the world does not recognise you or your merits.

Learn these first and foremost, if you are an aspirant and put them into practice. You should not fall into joy, when you are being praised; therein lies a deadly trap, which might even lead you astray and endanger your progress.

Try to learn and absorb things that are good for you from the advice of others and behave accordingly. Train yourself to take insult and criticism as deviations and digressions.

- Dhyana Vahini, Ch 14

There is no trace of ego in man at the time of birth, but it develops as he grows up. The feelings of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ are responsible for man’s bondage.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why should acts of service never be considered inferior or undignified?

Many look down upon acts like cleaning of streets, relief to the sick, feeding the hungry and service to the poor and destitute, as undignified.

This is a grievous mistake.

The underlying truth of karma yoga is the demonstration of the unity that subsumes the diversity in the universe.

Desireless action demonstrates and promotes the love principle.

There is no greater spiritual sadhana than service.

The tendency to distinguish between the spiritual path, the path of service and the path of knowledge and regard them as separate is wrong.

The three are not distinct; they are one.

Seva (service) is spiritual knowledge. Seva is the primary means to acquire divine grace.

Without being a devoted follower, you cannot become a worthy leader.

Without being a kinkara (one who is ready to do any work), you cannot become a Shankara (the divine).

Each one has to realise this truth. Service to society is the highest good.

- Divine Discourse, Nov 17, 1985

The spirit of service should be coupled with readiness for sacrifice. Only then can it be called selfless service, free from any taint of self-interest.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the approach to our duties and life in general, that constitutes the virtue of sacrifice?

If the mind concerns itself with worldliness then it is separated from the light of the atma and this separation causes mental perturbation.

In order to have a vision of the Divine, you have to purify the inner instruments and conduct a virtuous life.

We should keep our intelligence disengaged from worldly issues. Intelligence should not be made a tool to satiate physical and mental obsessions.

On the other hand, it should be used for the revelation of Atma. It should only be a witness and remain unaffected by the surroundings. Then it is in a state of nivritti (inward path of renunciation).

In this context, the sacrifice of work cannot be something which relates to nivritti. Sacrifice of one’s desires alone can be associated with nivritti.

People sometimes refer to karma-phala-tyaga (renunciation of fruits of action) and say one must sacrifice the results of whatever work one does.

If this is so, they argue no work needs to be done at all and they assert this is what the Scriptures teaches us.

Nothing can be farther from truth. No one can sacrifice all work and yet live!

The body is created for doing work. So everyone must perform work. But in doing such work, if your thoughts are sacred, you will do good work without seeking fruit thereof.

- Summer Showers, Jun 11, 1973

It is only when the thoughts are good that the actions will be pure. When man’s actions are pure, society will be healthy and peaceful. –

Source: radiosai.org