The message of Jesus Christ

A Divine Discourses by Bhagawan Shri Sathya Sai Baba during Christmas day, December 25,1992

On December 25th, when Jesus was born, three kings. came to his birthplace. These three gave

expression to three different views about the new-born babe. One of them, looking at the infant,

said: "This child looks like one who will be a lover of God." A second king said: "God will love

this child." The third king declared: "Verily, this child is God Himself." The first one viewed the

child from the physical point of view. The second saw the child from the mental viewpoint. The

third saw from the Aatmic (spiritual) point of view.

The three declarations indicate how one can progress from the human to the divine level. What is

needed is the destruction of the animal and demonic qualities in man. Man today worships

inanimate idols and images, but makes no attempt to love his fellow human beings in flesh and

blood. This was the first message of Jesus. Though one sees his neighbours day after day, he

does not choose to love them. How can one believe that such a person can love an invisible God?

If a man cannot love a fellow human being who is visible before his eyes, how can he love what

is not visible to him? This is not possible. Only a man who loves living beings around him can

love the invisible Divine. Love must start with love for beings that have form. It must be

extended to all beings. This is the primary stage in spirituality.

Divine Discourse-Undertake Love of God and Service to Society

A Divine Discourse by Bhagwan Shri Sathya Sai  Baba

You may be aware of the way a soldier in the army has to take training in all aspects before he can be fit to take part inactive service at the front. Anyone joining the armed forces, whether a dhobi, cook, or sepoy, has to qualify compulsorily in two things.  One is handling a rifle and the other is marching drill. Whatever may be one’s avocation in the army, one should have to undergo these two parts of the training.

Similarly, in the spiritual field, one should compulsorily undertake two things, namely, love of God and service to society. These are the two prime components of divine life. They help in the realisation of the Divine. You have to take up the practice at an early age so that you can have the realisation before you leave the world. You do not know when the end will come. You should be prepared for it at all times.

The photographer asks you to be ready when he snaps your picture, and he gives you time to ready yourself. But the divine cameraman will not give you any notice. You should always be ready to meet the situation. If you engage yourself in bhajan and daivachintanam — keerthanam and smaranam —you will not be caught unawares.  Suppose you have a master who has an Alsatian dog at the gate and he himself is at the first floor. There are two ways of reaching him.

One way is to befriend the dog and enter thehouse; the other way is to call out to the master from the ground in a loud voice so that he will come out and allow you to come in by controlling the dog. Maya(illusion) is the dog. God is the master. You either control the maya or chant His name and sing His glory so that He will come down. You have to treasure Him in our heart, since the heart is His altar.

God is Hridayanivasa. Draupadi prayed to Krishna when she was humiliated in Duryodhana’s court. She said, “Oh, Dwaraka Vasa, Brindavan Sanchara, help me!” She could not get a response and she be-came tired. Finally, she pleaded in a faint voice, “Oh Hridayanivasa(Resident of my heart)! Will you not come to my rescue?” Immediately, Krishna saved her from trouble. On a later occasion, she asked Krishna why He took such a long time to respond when she was in distress and prayed to Him sincerely. Krishna responded, “You said, Dwaraka Vasa,Brindavan Sanchara, etc. I had to respect your words, so I had to go from your heart all the way to Dwaraka and Brindavan,which are so far away, and I don’t have a plane to go fast. When you said, Hridayanivasa, where I am actually residing, I came to your help instantaneously. So, everyone should install the Divine in the heart in full faith. It is not correct to think that He is only in a mosque, church, or temple. The seat of God is the devotee’s heart.

That is why the Gita says, “Pasyanapicha na pasyathi(though he sees, yet he is not conscious of God in the heart).Everything you see outside is a reflection of the inner being. “Sarvathah Panipadam thath Sarvathokshi Siromukham.” All feet, hands, eyes, heads are all His. What does this mean? It means that He is in every being. God manifests according to your feeling. One devotee was asking God, “You say You are in me, above me, below me. How is it that You are not protecting me?” God answers, “I am always in you, around you. Don’t look for Me externally.” The devotee asked, “Are You behind me really?” Replied the Lord, “My shadow is your body.” When the devotee turned around to see whether God was behind, he could not see Him. He asked, “Are You speaking the truth? I don’t find You.” God replied, “When you turn back, I too have to turn back, so, you could not see Me. You have not understood the Truth. Suppose you stand before a chair; the chair is in front of you. If you turn around, the chair is at your back.

God manifests according to your bhava(feeling). When you pray, “Can’t you hear my prayers?”, you visualise Him hearing with His ears. When you pray, “Can’t You see my suffering?” you see only His eyes. When you pray, “Why don’t you stay with me?”, you hear His footsteps. You have to maintain perfect silence. Listen to the sound of “Om” from within. The ancient seers spent their time in listening to the voice of God, which is Pranava. Even now, you can experience this. Close your ears gently. You will hear the sound Om from within. God proclaims, “Oh devotee, you are seeing with physical eyes and listening with physical ears. Be in utter silence. You can listen to the footsteps of God.” Such holy paths have been shown by great devotees. One who doesn’t understand this is in ignorance.

Surdas, a great devotee of Krishna, once went after a woman and followed her to her home. Her husband chastised him, saying, “Why have you been given eyes? Is it for this un-holy pursuit of another man’s wife? Why don’t you concentrate on God?” Immediately, Surdas got enlightened and pierced his eyes with thorns of a lime tree close by. He proceeded to Dwaraka to Krishna’s temple. On his way, he was about to fall into a well. Krishna came in the form of a cowherd boy and caught hold of his hand and asked him, “Where are you going?”. Surdas said, “I am going to Dwarka.”Krishna said, “I will show you the way and lead you.” Next day, they rested in a wayside hut. Krishna wanted to go, but Surdas wouldn’t leave him. Surdas put his hand over the boy while sleeping and asked the boy to put his hand on him. Sparshanam papanasam. Because of this divine touch, he was released from all his sins. Then Krishna told Surdas, “I am Krishna, to whom you always pray. I played this drama to show you My form.”  He touched Surdas’s eyes, and Surdas got back his sight, beheld the divine form, and got into blissful ecstasy. When Krishna asked him to retain his vision, Surdas said, “I have seen You; I don’t want to see anything else with these eyes. I don’t want my sight. Many people have eyes. Have they seen you? Many have ears; they are not fortunate to hear your melodious music. I want only jnanachaksus (eyes of knowledge).Krishna kept His hand on the head of Surdas, and Surdas merged with the Divine. No one can know when God will bless! 

Whatever God does is for the good of the devotees. He is selfless. When you have the wish-fulfilling tree in your back-yard, why do you go in search of fruits? Pure thoughts of love should flow from you to God. Then, love of God will flow to you. When you post a registered letter to another person, the proof of this letter having reached the addressee is the acknowledgement slip you get. The proof of sincerity of your love will be the flow of God’s grace to you. With intense longing for God’s grace, you must wait patiently, chanting His name ceaselessly. You will surely perceive God’s form manifesting before you.

Swami's Discourse- Krishna : incarnation of love

Love is God; the Cosmos is permeated with Love.

Assuming the Love form, to save His beloved ones,

Showering the nectarine stream of Love,

Krishna came as the embodiment of Love for those yearning for

Him.

Everything is born out of pure Love;

All joy is derived from unalloyed Love;

So are Truth, Sacrifice, Peace and Forbearance

If Love is lacking, there can be no contentment.

This is the path of Sai and the word of Truth.

GOD as Friend

(An extract from the divine discourse of Bhagwan Baba on 14/01/1991)

Do not brag about your learning,
Nor proclaim your affluence;
Don't lose your head over your wealth,
Nor boast about your progeny;
Do not proclaim you are a donor,
Nor feel elated because you are Swami's sevak;
Do not exult over your valour,
Or over your accomplishments;
When you win the approbation of a few
The Lotus-eyed Lord will bless you.
His feet are everywhere;
His eyes and Heads are everywhere;
With His ears in all directions,
Encompassing everything, stands the Lord.

DEAR Students and teachers! Embodiments of Divine Love! The Lord pervades everything in the cosmos with His myriad feet, hands, eyes, faces and ears. But man, not recognising the fact, imagines he is the doer and indulges in all kinds of speculation, thinking that no one knows about them. The Lord sees everything. No one can conceal anything from Him. He dwells inside and outside every living thing. Hence nothing can be hidden from Him. God dwells in all beings in one and the same form. Although living beings may vary from each other, God is One and indivisible. The sun shines over the water in the lake, in a well, in a vessel, in a river or over the ocean. Although the sun is one, he is reflected in different ways. The containers are varied, but God is one' and the same in all beings. Anthike Sath (The Divine is the nearest). There is nothing in the world nearer to one than the Divine.

A Birthday Gift- Divine Discourse

Emodiments of Love!

You must be thinking about the gift you have to offer Swami on this Birthday.

You can be happy that you have given Swami a proper gift only when you love your fellowmen, share their sufferings, and engage yourselves in serving them. That is the only gift I wish for. The present given to God has to be pure, steady and selfless Love.

On this birthday I have only one desire. I am desiring this only to promote your aanandha.

Rich people and people in power have plentiful servants. But the distressed, the poverty-stricken, and those who suffer have no one to serve them. Go to such people and be their friends, their kith and kin, their closest well-wishers. Let them welcome you as such. If you pour spirituality into the ears of those who are tortured by hunger, it will not be assimilated. First,   quench the hunger. Give them God in the form of food. Give them God in the form of clothes. Give God in the form of peace to those who are afflicted with anxiety. Give God in the form of medicine to those who are suffering from ill health. Give God in whatever form which will assuage fear, pain and sorrow. It is only when this is done that spirituality can soak into the heart. If you act contrariwise, instead of spiritual feelings you will be promoting atheism itself.

Divine Discourse

Embodiments of Love!

People worship God with devotion and sincerity, but God is not-satisfied with external

worship. You should serve society. Only service can confer bliss on you. By rendering service to society, not only can you alleviate the sufferings of the people, but you can also bring about transformation in their lives. Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavati (as is the feeling, so is the result). If you serve with sacred feelings, it is bound to yield sacred results. Serve society to your utmost capacity. You are doing bhajans in the morning

and evening. The satisfaction that you get by participating in bhajans is temporary, whereas service confers permanent satisfaction. A few minutes ago, the students sang Bhaja Govindam, in which it is said, Ma Kuru Dhanajana Yauvana Garvam,Harathi Nimeshath Kalah Sarvam (do not be proud of your wealth, progeny and youth; the tide of time may destroy them in a moment).

Sanctify Time By Service

Youth and wealth are like passing clouds. Do not entertain excessive desires. Do your duty sincerely. Whatever happens, be it good or bad, accept it as the gift of God. Understand that it is good for you. Time is the most precious gift of God, but you are wasting it in vain pursuits and unsacred feelings. Sanctify the time given to you by serving society. Through service alone can one get rid of worries, ego, pomp and show and other evil qualities. The Vedas say, Chittasya Shuddhaye Karmah (the objective of actions is to purify the mind). Service alone is to purify the mind. Today people waste a lot of time, wealth and energy in performing activities which do not foster purity of the mind. That is why they are unable to experience peace of mind. The peace that one gets out of worldly activities comes and goes like a passing cloud. One should aspire for the true and eternal peace, which originates from the heart.

Though the Pandavas were subjected to many hardships, Dharmaraja always remained peaceful. When Droupadi was being humiliated by the Kauravas, Bhima became furious and tried to attack Dussasana with his mace. It was Dharmaraja who pacified Bhima saying, those who adhere to dharma will ultimately emerge victorious. Not all can attain the level of peace that Dharmaraja attained. It is possible only for a few. Where there is peace, there you find Divine power, grace and fame. The Kauravas were many in number, whereas the Pandavas were only five. But the fame of the Pandavas remained permanent in society. Dharmaraja was liked by one and all.

Speak Sweetly And Softly

Today unrest and violence have gripped the world as Sathya and dharma have declined in the hearts of people. All that you find outside is nothing but the reflection, reaction and resound of your inner feelings. Human life is highly sacred, most precious and divine. Do not fritter away this life by indulging in unsacred activities. It has to be lived in the proper way by exercising control over the ten indriyas (senses).

Speak sweetly and softly. You cannot always oblige, but you can speak always obligingly. Pray for the wellbeing of all. Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu (May the

whole world be happy!). Sanctify your senses by serving all. If you exercise control over your senses, you can achieve anything in life. If God is not pleased with you, you will be looked down upon by everyone in the world. You may think that you have given away

ten bags of rice in charity and distributed clothes to five hundred people. Such accounts are to be submitted to the Income Tax Department and not to God. God is not interested in quantity, He sees the feeling behind your acts. So, whatever may be the act of charity you undertake, do it with the spirit of love and sacrifice.

What Is Your Dharma?

What is the teaching of the Bhagavadgita? Some people say that the path of action is the main teaching of the Bhagavadgita. Some others point to the path of wisdom as the main teaching of the Bhagavadgita .But none of these are correct. What is the first sloka in the Gita?

Dharmakshetre Kurukshetre Samaveta Yuyutsava, Mamaka Pandavaschiva Kimakurvata Sanjaya?

And the last sloka reads as follows: Yatra Yogeshwara Krishno, Yatra Partho Dhanurdhara, Tatra Srivijayo Bhutir Dhruva Neetirmathirmama.

When you join the last word of the last verse and the first word of the first verse, it becomes Mama dharma, meaning ‘my dharma’. This is what the Gita teaches. What is your dharma? Your dharma is to lead the life of a human being. Remain yourself that you are a human being, not an animal. Having been born as a human being, you should cultivate human values. Do not behave like an animal. Adhere to truth and righteousness.

The entire creation is based on truth. Where there is truth, there you find plenty and prosperity. Human life is not meant to enjoy physical comforts and worldly pleasures, which are momentary. It is meant to set an ideal to the rest of the world. Having lived all these years, what is the ideal that you have set? What is it that you have achieved? Put a question to yourself. The answer is a big zero. You might have done a few good deeds in life, but they pale in comparison to the number of bad deeds you might have performed. That is not the quality of a human being. Cultivate good thoughts, speak good words and perform good deeds. That is true humanness. The names of ancient sages and seers are remembered even today because of the good deeds they performed. Do unto others what you would like others to do unto you.

Do not indiscriminately follow the mind, for the mind is like a mad monkey. Follow the conscience, i.e., the principle of the atma. Love is the undercurrent of all this. So, lead a life suffused with love.

Students might have heard the story of Abou Ben Adhem who always offered sarva bhuta daya pushpam (compassion on all beings) to the Lord. Everyday he used to go round the streets to serve the destitute and the handicapped and return home late in the night. One night when he returned home, he found in his bedroom an angel writing something. When he asked her as to what she was writing, she replied that she was making a list of those who loved God. She replied in the negative when he asked her if his name was there in that list. The following night, when he returned home, he again found the angel writing something. He queried, “Mother, what is it that you are writing now?” She said, “Son, I am writing the names of those who are dear to God.” He again wanted to know if his name figured in the list. She replied that his name was on the top of this list. The sum and substance of this story is that God is pleased when you serve your fellow-human-beings. The scriptures have prescribed nine paths of devotion, namely, sravanam (listening to the Lord’s stories), kirthanam (singing His glories), vishnusmaranam (remembrance of the Lord’s name), pada sevanam (service to the Lord’s Lotus Feet), archanam (worship),vandanam (salutation), dasyam (servitude),

sneham (friendship), atmanivedanam (offering oneself to the Lord) i.e., complete self-surrender. But the path of service is the greatest of all. Neither by penance nor by pilgrimages Nor by going through the sacred texts Can one cross the ocean of worldly life; One can redeem one’s life only through service. (Sanskrit Verse).

Abou Ben Adhem became the recipient of God’s love because he spent all his time in the service of his fellowmen. God loves all, for He is the embodiment of love. But He will give Himself to those who show compassion to all beings.

-From Swami’s Krishna Janmashtami Discourse, 22-08-2000, Prasanthi Nilayam

Faith in the Goal- Divine Discourse Oct 3rd 1981

This Kali Yuga is praised in the scriptures as incomparably conducive to the salvation of man, for he can now attain the Highest through the mere thought of God and remembering His name.

So, of all the Yugas, this Yuga is described as the most holy, the most beneficent. Dhyaana (meditation) was prescribed as the means of liberation for men in the Kritha Yuga, thapas (penance) as the means during the Tretha Yuga and archana (ritual worship) for the Dhwaapara Yuga. But, for people of this Yuga, the simple remedy prescribed is just Naamasmarana, the constant awareness of the Name. In spite of this, it is a pity that men do not care for this path and so render their lives barren wastes.

Unless you give up, you cannot acquire---that is the rule of life. Even trivial things cannot be won without parting with something. One has to pay to secure the most precious of all gifts, the gift of the awareness of the Aathma! To earn this, one has to give up sensual pleasures, but is this too big a price? In fact, what is renounced is not pleasure at all. It is fraught with pain too. Can you not give up grief to earn joy, evil to earn good, diversity to earn unity, many to earn one?

One must strive for victory in the struggle against the whims and wiles of the senses. One must focus all one's physical and mental resources to earn success; one must fill oneself with Divine Grace by offering his strength and skill for Divine purposes.

Purpose gives taste to living

Every activity has a goal, an end in view. Proceeding to the market, going to school---each has a purpose. When such momentary and short-lived activities are motivated by goals, how can one pass 60 or 70 years of life on earth with no purpose guiding him and leading him on? Purpose gives taste to living. When the pappu (boiled lentles) on your plate lacks uppu (salt), you push it aside! But, you wade through years and years leading tasteless, insipid lives without uppu (God) added to pappu (Life).

When praised, man gets inflated, when blamed, he gets deflated. But for one who trusts in God, for the Bhaktha, these reactions are signs of weakness. Man must withstand both praise and blame, success and failure, pleasure and pain, like the Meru mountain peak. He must strive to be steadfast and unmoved. Once you collect desires, you become their slave; you will find no end to them. When they are attained, others assail you and still leave you discontended. Be aware of your innate Divinity and show these recurring desires their due place. The Aathma in you is unaffected by desire or defeat or victory. They are passing clouds. The Sun is not concerned with their comings and goings.

No one is unfamiliar with the Raamaayana. It describes the Dhandhaka forest, heavy with thick darkness and terrible with the resounding roar of wild beasts. It was infested with frightful gangs of raakshasas (demons). Suurpanakha was a demoness who roamed therein. Khara was a demon of the same nature. On some open patches of this jungle, rishees (sages) who were leading pure unselfish God-centred lives had their hermitages. And, into this forest came, as exiles, Prince Raama,  Lakshmana, his brother, and Seetha, Raama's consort. They spent some days with great sages like Agasthya and Sharabhanga. They found the ascetic Shabari also in her retreat. As a result, Raama destroyed the demons and restored peace in the region for the sages to perform their spiritual practices and rituals undisturbed.

Faith and surrender can ensure peace and joy

This is what the epic says. But, where exactly is the Dhandhaka forest? You need not look for it on any map or turn over the pages of history. It is the heart of every man. The evil feelings are the raakshasas; the good thoughts are the rishis. Raama is the personification of viveka, the discriminating faculty of the intellect. Seetha and Lakshmana are the higher levels of consciousness---sujnaana and prajnaana. Raama puts an end to evil feelings and promotes good thoughts. Raama is the Emperor of Ayodhya. That name means "Impregnable," "with no enemy," that is to say, no injurious or demeaning feeling or thought, can invade the heart when Raama is installed therein. Thyaagaraaja sang,  "Thelisi Raama chinthana cheyave manasa" (Oh! Mind! Meditate on Raama with the full knowledge of what He represents).

When I speak, you hear the speech via the microphone through the loud speakers. You listen to the instrument, the loudspeaker, but I am the speaker. So, too, when your tongue utters the words, it is the Aathma that prompts and shapes the words. The owner sits in the car and travels.

The car, your body, has four wheels on the ground (dharma, artha, kaama, moksha---the four human goals virtue, prosperity, desire fulfilment and liberation) and they are filled with air. Faith is the air which makes your travel smooth. It has to be uniform in all the four wheels. The steering-wheel inside the car directs the outer wheels. The wheel is the 'mind'. The food and drink you take is the petrol for the car and its 'horn' is the tongue. You are journeying along the

road of ups and downs (Samsaara) in this car. Recongnise that God is the person at the wheel.

He will take you happily to the destination. Have faith in Him and be free from fear, anxiety and agitation. Surrender to Him. His grace can save you, His wisdom can enlighten you, His power can overcome all your obstacles. Faith and surrender are the manifestations of bhakthi (devotion). They can ensure peace and joy for you and all mankind.

Lessons on Seva Saadhana

An extract from a divine discourse by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on January 12, 1968.

Society is the coming together of people. Cooperation among people in a society, motivated by spontaneity and by pure intentions, is the hall-mark of seva (service). Seva can be identified by means of two basic characteristics' Compassion and willingness to sacrifice.

History informs us that in all countries and in every age, man is a social animal. Man is born in society, he grows in and through society and his life ends in society itself. Man's songs and speech, his duties and diversions, are all determined by society. Society for man is like water for fish: if society rejects him or neglects him he cannot survive.

What a single individual cannot accomplish, a well-knit group or society can achieve. A man walking alone will feel tired and miserable at the end of five miles; but, walking with ten others as a group he would find the five miles a jaunt. He arrives refreshed and strong. Social living contributes increased happiness and more efficient effort among birds and beasts. They are able to defend themselves from enemies, secure food and shelter, migrate to places beyond great distances when they act as a group. Even ants have learn, that immense benefits are derivable from group activity and social organisation. Monkeys also live in groups for greater security and happier lives.

Let me tell you that nothing is impossible of achievement if an organised society is set on achieving it. Even liberation from material entanglement (Moksha) can be won through serving and promoting the progress of society. Through the sense of unity, the willingness to sacrifice and the softness of compassion, all objects can be gained. So, the Sathya Sai Organisation must move forward with hearty enthusiasm in the field of service to society.

Service must bring about uprooting of ego

The first lesson in seva has to be learnt in the family circle itself. Father, mother, brothers, sisters---in this limited group which is well knit, one must engage in loving service and prepare for the wider seva that awaits outside the home. The character of each individual member determines the peace and prosperity of the family; the character of each family is the basic factor that decides the happiness and joy of the village or the community. And, the nation's progress is based on the strength and happiness of the communities which are its components. So, for the welfare of the country and of the entire world, the spirit of service, vital enthusiasm, constructive imagination, pure motivation, and unselfish alertness are all urgently needed.

Take Hanumaan as your example in seva. He served Raama, the Prince of Righteousness, regardless of obstacles of all types. Though he was strong, learned and virtuous, he had no trace of pride. When asked who he was by the raakshasaas (demons) in Lanka into which he had entered so daringly, he described himself, in all humility, as the 'servant of Raama.' That is a fine example of uprooting of the ego which seva must bring about in us. No one can serve another while his ego is rampant. The attitudes of mutual help and selfless service develop the 'humanness' of man and help the unfoldment of the divinity latent in him.

Krishna was known to all as almighty, all-knowing, all encompassing and all-fulfilling. Yet, the enthusiasm to do seva prompted him to approach Dharmaraaja, the eldest of the Paandava brothers, on the eve of the magnificent Raajsooya Yaaga he had planned to celebrate and offered to take up seva of any kind. He suggested that he might be given the task of cleaning the dining hall after the guests have partaken of the feast! Krishna insisted on outer cleanliness and inner cleansing. Clean clothes and clean minds are the ideal combination.

During the battle of Kurukshetra, which climaxed the Mahaabhaaratha story, Krishna served as the 'driver' of the chariot of Arjuna throughout the day on the field and when dusk caused the adjournment of the fight, he led the horses to the river, gave them a refreshing bath and applied healing balms to the wounds suffered by them during the fierce fray. He mended the reins and the harness and rendered the chariot battleworthy for another day.

Seva rendered to every living being is Saadhana

The Lord sets the example for the devotees to follow. He teaches that service done to any living being is offered to Him only and is accepted by Him most joyfully. Service rendered to cattle, to beasts, to men is laudable saadhana. Keeping the environment of our residences clean, providing help to those who live around the place, going to hospitals and serving the patients who are in the wards---in such acts of service the members of the Sathya Seva Organisation must take active part. Many do such things now as 'social service,' not as a saadhana in a fullhearted manner. The saadhana spirit is not found in the activity.

Through seva saadhana, Hanumaan attained identity with Raama, as the river attains identity with the sea. Arjuna too considered every act as saadhana to attain the grace of Krishna, for Krishna directed him to fight on, ever keeping Him in memory---"Maamanusmara Yuddhyacha."

You too should keep God ever in your mind as the pace-setter, whether you are serving patients in the hospitals or cleaning a drain in the bazaar. That is the thapas, that is the highest form of saadhana. More than listening to a hundred lectures or delivering them to others, offering one act of genuine seva attracts the Grace of God.

The body has to be utilised for service to others. Activity is its main purpose. Krishna says, "I have no need to be engaged in work but I do work in order to activate the world." More aanandha can be won by serving others than what can be got by merely serving oneself. Offer service to some one in need, with a full heart and experience the aanandha that results. It need not be something big; it can even be small and unnoticed by others. It has to be done to please the God within you and him.

Avoid the ego marring your saadhana

We require today those who take delight in selfless service, but such men are rarely seen. You who belong to the Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, every one of you, must become a sevak, eager to help those who need it. When the sevak (helper) becomes the nayak (leader) the world will prosper. Only a kinkara (servant) can grow into a Shankara (Master). Of course, one has to eliminate the ego totally. Even a trace of it will bring disaster. However long you may do dhyaana, however constant your japa, a little ego will render them barren of results. Bhajan done with egoistic pride will be as harsh as the crow's caw. So, try to avoid the ego marring your saadhana, even to a small extent.

You all know the story of Vishwaamithra, who had as a result of severe thapas for years, earned the power even to create another Heaven amenable to his will. His ego made him intensely passionate and short tempered (raajasik). So, he was known as Raaja-Yogi and Raajarishi. He was jealous of the sage Vasishta who was adored as a Brahmarishi and sought that title for himself. This made him even more raajasik. The wilder his desire, the higher rose the ego flames.

Be vigilant against doubts and fears


The Sathya Sai Organisation has laid down seva as saadhana, in order to uproot from your mind this evil trait. Service helps you to remove the ego. So, do not pay heed to what others might say when you engage in service activities. When you are doing good acts, why hesitate, why feel ashamed, why fear? Let Compassion and Sacrifice be your two eyes; let Egolessness be your breath and Love be your tongue. Let Peace reverberate in your ears. These are the five vital elements you have to live upon. God will not ask you, when and where did you do service? He will ask, "With what motive did you do it? What was the intention that prompted you?" You may weigh the seva and boast of its quantity. But, God seeks quality, the quality of the heart, the purity of the mind, the holiness .of the motive.

You know you have been doing, as seva dal members, seva in many fields and directions, for ten or twelve years. You are not novices; you are aware of the seva-way of life. But since you are human, veils and fog, weeds and worms infest the mind. Doubts and fears haunt your work. But be vigilant against the onslaughts of these. Strive everyday, faithful to the ideal you have set before yourself, to improve your seva activities along pure, unselfish, sacred lines.

This day and tomorrow, people with years of experience will be telling you the means and methods by which your seva activities can become more beneficial to a larger number of deserving people. You will also have group discussions on these topics. Confer among yourselves in a meaningful way and arrive at some proposals for bettering your service programmes. Later, I shall resolve any doubts that arise and advise you not only for seva here and now, but also for attaining peace and joy forever. I shall converse with you and reward you with ananda through My Blessings.

Unity and Divinity in the New Year

An extract from a divine discourse by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on January 1, 2000.

Embodiments of Love!

God is the basis of everything. He is omnipotent, omniscient and pervades all creation.

Just as without cotton, there can be no cloth, similarly, there can be no world without God. Do not mistake this deha (transient body) as real. It is the dehi (indwelling divinity) that is the true reality. This divinity is beyond birth and death; the one without any beginning, middle or end. This birthless, deathless God is the eternal witness of the entire cosmos. Recognise

this truth.

Recognize That Human Birth Is A Rare Occurrence

You are celebrating this day as the beginning of the New Year. Do not consider that the New year is related only to the Christians. Do not have any such narrow distinctions. Humanity in the whole world is one. All men of all countries belong to one race, the race of humanity. Keep this truth firmly in your heart. You must recognize that human birth is a rare occurrence. Consider time as highly valuable. The heart must be soft and the mind must be sweet. Human mind, which is supposed to be sweet, has become highly poisonous today, because man is allowing it to indulge in sensual pleasures, which are like deadly poison. Do not poison your nectarous mind by associating it with the objects of your senses. By doing so, you are making your soft heart also hard like stone. Do not waste time. Time is the very form of God.

Hence, it is said in the Vedas:

 Kalaya Namah, Kala Kalaya Namah, Kala Darpa Damanaya Namah, Kalatheetaya Namah.

 God is the master of time. He transcends time. Therefore, have firm faith in God and not in your body. The body is impermanent. It grows and declines with the passage of time.

Embodiments of Love!

You are considering this day as very sacred.  “Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavati” (as you think so you

become). In any event, the year is not bad in any sense. It will promote very high ideals and propagate divine principles. It will foster the principle of unity. In a very short time, all the people of the world are going to be united. Today you consider America, Russia, Japan, China, Pakistan, and India as separate from each other. Very soon there will be unity amongst all these countries. Even those whom you consider as your worst enemies are going to become your best friends.

You should not hate anybody. You are all brothers and sisters. In a short time, you are all going to witness the “Brotherhood of Man and Fatherhood of God.” With a pure heart, all of you should pray for this to happen at the earliest.

There are many people in the world in great distress. The people who have been recently hijacked were under a severe strain. Prayer is the only remedy for the alleviation of such misery. There is nothing in the world that cannot be achieved by prayer. Prayer melts the hardest hearts. Pray wholeheartedly, “Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu” (May the whole world be happy). Do not pray only for the welfare of your family, friends and relatives. Such narrow- minded prayers are futile. Your prayers should be for the welfare of all people in all the countries of the world.

Start A New Life With Ideals Of Service And Love

Embodiments of Love!

The one principle that you have to uphold and develop is that of love. When love dominates, there is no room for hatred. If there was no feeling of love earlier, at least sow the seeds of love now.

You must sow the seed of love in loveless hearts. Water it with love. Let love flow in a flood and reach all. You should cultivate this pure, steady, unselfish love in this New Year. Modern man directs his love towards wordly objects and gets entangled in several complications. “Love lives by giving and forgiving, self lives by getting and forgetting.” Selfish love is like the foul smell of fish. Cultivate selfless love. Love all. Let others feel and think as they like. Do not bother about that. There is no need to fear anyone. Make your love pure. Then the whole world will become pure.

Meet All Contingencies With Love

Many people are worrying and speculating as to how the year will unfold. There will be no formidable difficulties. In this world all things, good and bad, come and go. World devoid of happiness and misery cannot exist. Nothing is bad for the world. Pleasure is an interval between two pains. How can you feel pleasure if you have never felt pain? These come and go like passing clouds. One should neither dread one nor crave for the other. Meet all contingencies with love. Transform everything into love and suffuse your lives with love. Then there shall be peace and stability in the world. Why do you repeat the word “santhi” (peace) thrice? You pray that you may have peace at all the three levels—physical, mental and spiritual—for you are not one individual, but three—the one you think you are (physical body), the one others think you are (mental body) and the one you really are (atma). All three aspects of your being must be in a state of peace. This can be achieved only through love. Swami Himself is the proof of this. Infinite love is Swami’s only wealth. Who sent out invitations to this large congregation? Your love toward Swami and Swami’s love towards all of you has attracted all of you here.

Hence, convince yourself that everything can be achieved with love. The evil traits of hatred, jealousy and pride should be cast aside. These are not human qualities, but animal traits. You are a human being. Love is the chief quality of man, truth is his basis and righteousness is his very life. The combination of all these ensures peace. If you possess all these, peace is your property by right. Give up selfishness and work for the unity of your country. Pray for the welfare of all and lead an ideal life. Human life is not gifted to you to hanker after worldly objects. You have to set an ideal to the world. What is the ideal that you have to set? You must help all to your utmost capacity.

The best way to love God is to love all and serve all.

Adopting service and love as your ideals, you must start a new life from this moment—this is My blessing and benediction to you.

Restore The Glory of Bharat

An extract from a divine discourse by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on Nov 23, 1990.

Embodiments of the Divine Atma! Esteeming love as the essence of divinity, you have to engage yourselves in loving service to society. You have to restore the glory of Bharat. Bharat has been in the past the preceptor for all nations. All other people are coming to acquire peace and enlightenment. In this situation, it is a great misfortune that Bharatiyas themselves are not conscious of their greatness. Bharatiya history reflects the achievements of Bharat in the realms of the physical, the mental, the spiritual and all other aspects of life. We have to fill our hearts with this heritage.

Today we are dedicating our lives to material and worldly comforts. Of what avail are all these appurtenances? We have to realise the Atmic principle which is the source of enduring bliss. All the knowledge that is acquired, all the positions one may get are of no use if there is no love in the heart. The acquisition of good qualities is more essential than the pursuit of knowledge.

The magnet of Divine love

Why is it that so many lakhs of people have gathered here today? There must be some compelling reason for it. You must be seeking something which you have not found in your native place. There would be no need for you to incur all this expenditure if you could find what

 you wanted in your own place. Here there is Divine Love. It is this powerful magnet of Divine

Love, which has been attracting all the iron filings in the form of human beings. Not a single invitation was sent to anyone. No one was asked to come. What has drawn all people here is the power of Divine Love, the bonds uniting hearts. At the root of all this is purity. Where there is purity, there love grows. When purity and love come together, there is Ananda (bliss). Whatever work we do, whatever sacrifices we perform, they are not of much use in the absence of love.

In yoga practice, some types of breath control are adopted. The Kundalini yoga is also practised. All this is a form of business. In the breathing exercises, inhalation is described as Purakam, exhalation as Rechakam and holding the breath as Kumbhakam. These do not constitute the means to achieve yogic power. To breathe in all that is good is Purakam. To give up all that is bad is Rechakam. To retain in the heart what is good is Kumbhakam. Everyone is qualified to practise this kind of yoga. This divine type of yoga should be practised by every human being. This is the primary goal of every Bharatiya.

This Puttaparthi is a small hamlet. How has this village attained this eminent state? Each one can find the answer for himself. This should not be considered as a yoga or a great piece of good fortune or a lucky accident. It is due to the power of thought. Every sacred thought has the power to find fulfilment. This is why Vedanta declared: "Yadbhaavam tadbhavati" (As one thinks, that he becomes). Hence, every man should develop good thoughts. Thereby he gets entitled to the right of fruits.

Adjusting to difficulties is a form of penance

Embodiments of Divine Love! Although in this Prashaanthi Nilayam adequate facilities and conveniences are not available, and many of you who are used to various amenities have gathered here, you have submitted yourselves to a kind of yoga by which you have adjusted yourselves to all the inconveniences. You should regard this experience as sadhana (spiritual exercise). Enjoying all comforts cannot constitute sadhana. It is through difficulties that you experience happiness. Happiness cannot be realised without going through trouble. Such difficulties must be regarded as a form of penance. Easy life cannot become a penance. The fact that so many lakhs of people have gathered here, putting up with many difficulties and inconvenience, is striking testimony to their sense of unity. Human effort is needed for achieving anything. In the improvement of accommodation and various amenities at Prashaanthi Nilayam over the past twenty years, what has been accomplished is the work of Joga Rao. As a member of the Central Trust for twenty years, he has laboured hard day and night ceaselessly to bring about these improvements in Prashaanthi

Nilayam. He is a Karma Yogi. He takes delight in work. Moreover, what he has been doing tirelessly night and day during the past twelve months is known only to Me and none else. He is not Col. Joga Rao. They call him Colonel Jogi, but he is indeed a Karma Yogi. For the past one month he has not had a moment's sleep. He is 82 years old. It is because even at this age he has laboured to provide as many amenities as possible, the devotees have been able to overcome their difficulties. To mark their appreciation of Joga Rao's services, the members of the Central Trust decided to honour him suitably. I do not regard Joga Rao as an outsider. But duty demands that a certain thing should be done. In honouring Joga Rao the Central Trust is discharging a duty. (Bhagavan then put a kadiyams in gold round the wrists of Col. Joga Rao. The entire gathering cheered as Col. Joga Rao came to receive the kadiyams from the Divine hands.

Bhagavan told Col. Joga Rao sotto voce that he should carry on the good work with the same

energy). There should be many more karma jivis and karma yogis like Joga Rao in Bharat in the coming years. Everyone should become a karma yogi. That Karma gets transformed into Dharma. That Karma will sanctify human life.

Bharat is not a poor country

It is the duty of everyone to cultivate faith in the Divine, get immersed in Karmayoga and divinise his life. No Bharatiya should forget the sacredness of Bharat. Bharat is not at all a poor country. It is because this fact is not realised that the country is riddled with strife and disorder.

Failing to distinguish between what is transient and what is permanent, people are ruining their lives in the pursuit of fleeting pleasures. For the sake of trivial and momentary benefits, people are sacrificing what is of lasting value.

At the time of attaining freedom, only 13 percent of the population was considered backward. This percentage has gone on increasing over the years and today it is 80 percent! In five or six years, it may become cent percent! This is not proper at all.

Bharat is not made up of backward classes. For the sake of some petty concessions such classifications are being made. Foreign countries are regarding Bharat as a poverty-stricken country. Embodiments of Divine Love! Remember Bharat is a land of plenty. No country is so well endowed with resources as Bharat. Why, then, should we call ourselves a poor nation? Nor is that all. In the fields of education and medicine, we have to develop the spirit of sacrifice.

Make education available free for all

You all know how many students lost their lives (by self-immolation) a month ago. What is the reason? It was a protest against the system of reservation on a communal basis. We must seek to promote a system which will make education available freely to all. Education must be for the

sake of learning. When that happens, these problems will not arise among students. Here we have today the President of India, the Chief Minister and the Governor of Andhra Pradesh and other eminent persons. In the sphere of education, if we do not create new classifications like 'backward' and 'forward' and establish a system of free education for all, without distinctions of rich or poor, the nation will make striking progress. We are wasting crores of rupees. If we ensure the right kind of future for our children, the nation will benefit

immensely. Every spiritual organization should also provide free education.

It is well known that the Tirupati Devasthanam has plenty of funds. Why should not the authorities there offer free education? How many crores are being wasted? It is because education is not free, not one of the students in the Devasthanam educational institutions cares to visit the temple. How can devotion grow? In the name of the Lord free education and medical relief should be provided.

The aim of 100-crore hospital project

With this object in view, we decided yesterday to establish a big hospital here. Many persons appealed to me to set up the hospital in an urban centre. There are many medical institutions run as a business in several cities. When any educational or medical institution is established, the sole aim is to make a business of it. There are few who are ready to set up such institutions to provide free facilities for the poor. Therefore, from the start we decided to set up a hundred-crore hospital near Prashaanthi Nilayam itself. Even as higher education is free here, "Higher medicine" also will be free. People spend some lakhs to get heart surgery done in the U.S. What is the plight of the poor? Who looks after them? If they go to the cities, they will not get even coloured water (mixtures). Recognising this fact, we have launched this big hospital project.

Whether it is heart bypass operation, or a kidney transplant, or a lung operation or brain surgery, everything will be done free. This has been decided upon from the very starting of the project.

The hospital will be opened on November 22, 1991. No one can understand Sai Sankalpa (workings of the mind). Thought and action are simultaneous like the light and sound that come

out when a gun is fired. Hence it is not easy for everyone to understand Sai's resolve.

The Sathya Sai saga

Embodiments of Divine Love! Do not regard what I am going to say as an exaggeration. There is not a trace of self-interest in Me. Whatever I do is only for the sake of others. I do not regard you as others. All of you are My own people. Such an all-encompassing feeling cannot be found anywhere in the world. Have you seen anywhere else an organization which has grown so stupendously in fifty years?

In the case of earlier avatars, their fame grew only long after their passing. In the case of the present avatar, in His own life-time, a university, a big hospital, an aerodrome and  many other things have been established for the benefit of the villagers and many more will follow in the years ahead. Many persons have doubts as to how all these are being accomplished. The advent (of this avatar) took place 64 years ago. All these years, this hand has not been stretched at any time to seek anything from anyone. I have not asked anyone. I will never ask anyone and there will never be an occasion for it. How then are these things happening? For any good work, there is no impediment in Bharat. When you want to do any good work wholeheartedly, money flows in torrents. The narrow-minded who undertake any work will never be satisfied. They cannot understand the actions of those who are large-hearted and broad-minded.

Embodiments of Divine Love! I do not expect anything from you. Only, develop love within you. Regard all mankind with fraternal feelings. Recognize all as the children of God. Bear no ill-will or hatred towards anyone. Do not hurt anyone's feelings. Only such a large-hearted attitude will confer on you limitless bliss. If you are celebrating Swami's birthday, this is all that I desire from you. Have unity among yourselves. Strive to revive and promote the glory of Bharat.

"I am always filled with infinite joy"

As I was coming here, some people greeted Me with the words: “Happy birthday! Happy birthday!" I am always happy. I need no "Happy" greetings. Convey your greetings of "Happy birthday" to those who are not happy. I am filled with infinite joy. I have never had any worry at any time or place. What is the reason? All things are transient like passing clouds. Why worry about them? We should not be elated or depressed by births or deaths. We came naked into the world. When we leave, we cannot leave our address with "our" kith and kin. How can they be "our kinsfolk?" All these are worldly phenomena. As long as we live, we should spend our lives in harmony and fellow-feeling. All our difficulties can be overcome by contemplation on God.

Forgetting God and immersing yourself in worldly concerns, what do you achieve? Have firm faith in God. Don't give room for differences of caste, creed and nationality. All names and forms belong to the Divine. All that you see is a manifestation of the Cosmic Form of the Lord. With firm faith in the Divine, chanting the Lord's name, redeem your lives.