Sri Sathya Sai International Organization

Three disciplines are essential to become aware of divinity in all and in the Avatar. (1) No activity should be taken up with individual aggrandizement in view; (2) intellect and emotion must be directed to the revelation of the resident in the heart, Atma; and (3) every act should be done sincerely, with love, with no yearning for acquiring personal profit, fame, or benefit. Above all, listen to the voice of God within.

In this world, which is impermanent and ever transforming, the immanent power of the Lord is the only permanent and fixed entity. In order to realize the eternal and the true, one should attach oneself to that source and sustenance.

People should endeavor to cultivate qualities like tolerance, love, sympathy, righteousness, justice, and truth. People do not give any importance to this quest for truth. The search for truth is being directed toward worldly objects which are ephemeral and worthless. People should really dedicate themselves to the quest for the truth that is eternal.

Your actions should be in harmony with your words. Develop sacred feelings. Only then can you perform sacred activities. Devotion does not mean merely performing rituals like worship. Any work done with pure and selfless love is devotion.

Self-confidence is the foundation for the mansion of life. Once you have Self-confidence, you can raise the walls of Self-satisfaction over which you can lay the roof of self-sacrifice and lead a life of Self-realization. Hence, lay the foundation of Self-confidence strong and sturdy.

The service activities that we undertake are meant to experience unity in society. It is a great mistake if you think that you are serving others. In fact, you should not consider anybody as ‘other,’ for all are the embodiments of divinity. But people are not making efforts to realize this truth. Hence, one is subjected to difficulties.

If you must bring the power from the powerhouse to your residence to illumine your place, you must put up poles at regular intervals and connect the house with the powerhouse with cables. So too, if you must win the grace of God, do spiritual practice (sadhana) at regular timings, and connect yourself with God by the cable of remembering the Lord (smarana).

Everyone should have faith in the divine. Faith is essential for anyone, whether one is a theist or an atheist. People may judge things as good or bad according to their own predilections. But for God all things are the same. In this world, nothing will appear bad if one views it from the divine point of view.

Do not pollute your mind with worldly desires. You have attained this human birth because of meritorious deeds done in past lives. Do not misuse it. Human life is highly valuable. Keep up its value by practicing human values.

You are all Sath-Chith-Ananda Swarupa (embodiments of existence-consciousness-bliss), but you are unaware of it and imagine yourself to be this individual or that, subjected to this limitation or that! This is the myth that must be explored in order that divine life may start. Divine life does not admit the slightest dross in character or delusion in intellect. So, people dedicated to it must emphasize this by precept and example.

Know that waking from sleep is but birth, and going into sleep is death. On waking, pray every morning of your life, “Oh Lord, I am born now from the womb of sleep. I am determined to carry out all tasks this day as offerings to Thee, with Thee ever present before my mind’s eye. Make my words, thoughts, and deeds sacred and pure. Let me not inflict pain on anyone; let no one inflict pain on me. Direct me, guide me, this day.” And when you enter the portals of sleep at night, pray, “Oh Lord! The tasks of this day, whose burden I placed on you this morning, are over. It was You who made me walk and talk and think and act. I, therefore, place at Thy feet all my words, thoughts, and deeds. My task is done. Receive me, I am coming back to you.” Adopt these as your daily prayers.

Everyone must develop the spirit of sacrifice (thyaga). You must serve the people with your body. You must cherish good and noble thoughts in your mind. You must use your wealth for supporting educational and other institutions to help the people. Give food to the starving. This is the way to lead a purposeful and sublime life.

Take refuge in God. Let God be your guru, your path, your Lord. Adore God, obey God’s commands, offer God your grateful homage, and hold God fast in your memory. This is the easiest way to realize God as your own reality. This is the one and only way.

When one realizes the inefficiency of the senses, mind, and intellect to cope with the reality and know the inner core of God’s truth, then one realizes that there is God who is the basis of all this superstructure, who has designed and contrived all this. One then surrenders the ego to God. "Let Your will prevail," one proclaims and resigns fully to God’s plan. That moment is a supreme moment of joy and bliss.