Sri Sathya Sai International Organization

Human being is enclosed in five sheaths­ - physical, vital air, mental, intellectual, and bliss. This bliss is the core. So, one need only explore within oneself for infinite bliss. Bliss must be sought not through accumulation of worldly objects but through sacrifice and promotion of the welfare of others.

People do not understand the true meaning of love. Their love is tainted with physical and worldly feelings. When you understand the principle of love and develop love-to-love relationship, all will become one. The Veda says that all heads, all eyes, all feet are God’s. Once you understand the principle of oneness that is present in all, you can live in tune with the true spirit of brotherhood.

Rama’s name signifies the harmony in thought, word, and deed. Rama demonstrated this harmony by His thoughts, words, and deeds. The Rama principle embodies numerous powers and potencies. The Ramayana is not a sacred text to be used only for ritualistic reading (parayanam). The Rama principle is all-pervading like the cosmic spirit.

God is not far from you, or away in some distant place. He is within you, in your own inner altar. People suffer, because they are unable to discover God within and draw peace and joy from that discovery.

Restrain your desires. Experience the bliss of the divine at all times. That is true humanness, which manifests itself when you think of God. Happiness is union with God. How much bliss can you experience if you see God in yourself and in everybody! Let all differences cease. Recognizing the divinity that is present in all, you should foster the principle of love and develop compassion in the heart.

You know that first you have to plough the land, feed it with water; then sow the seed, pluck out the weeds, guard the crop by a fence from cattle and goats and wait patiently for harvest time. So also, the heart has to be ploughed by means of virtues fed with the water of divine love, before the seeds of divine name are sown; later, the field has to be watched and weeds have to be destroyed it is best to prevent the cattle of unsteadiness and doubt, by putting up the fence of discipline; then, the name of the Lord will lead you to meditation and the rich harvest of knowledge can be reaped.

If your foot slips, you earn a fracture; if your tongue slips, you fracture someone's faith or joy. That fracture can never be set right; that wound will fester forever. Therefore, use the tongue with great care. The softer you talk, the less you talk, the sweeter you talk, the better for you and the world.

Step by step, you reach the end of the road. One act followed by another leads to a good habit. By listening, you get prodded into action. Resolve to act, to mix only in good company, to read only elevating books, to form the habit of remembering the Lord’s name and, then ignorance will vanish automatically.

Love is not something that is acquired from outside. It emerges from within. When you develop and expand love, you will be able to realize the truth that all are one.

God is love and love is God. With hands, feet, eyes, ears, heads, and mouth pervading everything, God permeates the entire universe. You can connect yourself with God only through love. Develop love and achieve the supreme state of equanimity.

Develop equal mindedness towards everything. Do not brood over the past. The joy experienced will be in inverse proportion to your desires. The greater the desires, the less happiness you will experience. Therefore, try constantly to reduce your desires. In the journey of life, as in a railway journey, the less luggage (desires) you carry, the greater comfort you will have.

The proper study of humanity is the human being. A person is the center of things. And in the person, the mind has to be studied and controlled and regulated. One's thoughts originate in the mind, they express themselves through words and materialize through deeds. These three have to be properly coordinated by the intellect; or else, life becomes a tragedy. The mind has to be trained to develop a taste for the good and the godly; not for money and material gains. Money comes and goes; but morality comes and grows.

Prema is the master key which can achieve all. That is why, I say, "Start the day with love; Spend the day with love, fill the day with love, end the day with love; this is the way to God." On this path, you will not be affected by anger, lust or greed.

Whenever there is a decline in practice of righteousness (dharma) and an upheaval of unrighteousness, I incarnate myself as part of divine will (sankalpa) to protect dharma. I lay aside my formless essence and assume a name and a form suited to the purpose for which I have come. Whenever evil threatens to vanquish good, I must come and save it from decline.