Sri Sathya Sai International Organization

God is everywhere at all times; God accomplishes everything. God accomplishes the small feat of assuming human form, growing up with men and women, and being in their midst to win them over to the path of truth. God gives humanity a chance to savor the divine sweetness and have a glimpse of God’s glory. God acts despite the absence of any compulsion so that human beings may choose to act likewise!

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.

The welfare of the world depends on people’s conduct and behavior. One’s conduct depends on one’s mind. The nature of the mind depends on thoughts. Only when one’s thoughts are based on truth will the world flourish. One who aspires for the welfare of the world should see to it that the thoughts and actions are in accordance with one’s aspirations.

Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, “Those who think of Me under all circumstances will surely attain Me.” But you think of God only when you are in trouble. This is part-time devotion. With part-time devotion, you will get only part-time fulfillment. You must think of God at all times and in all situations. Everywhere, at all times, under all circumstances, contemplate on God.

Whatever we may accumulate, we must go empty-handed only. In the ultimate analysis, all worldly possessions are useless. Then why should we worry about all that is useless? Do your duty, make the best use of the present, and do not unnecessarily worry about the future.

One should not give scope to ego (ahamkara) by identifying oneself with the body. 'I' does not correspond to the body. 'I' corresponds to the eternal and immortal Self (Atma), which is not tainted by ego, pomposity, and immorality. Only when one develops such Self-confidence (Atma Viswasam) can one set an ideal for others. Human beings today do not understand the meaning of Self-confidence. First, one should have faith in oneself.

An individual’s inner reality cannot be known by exploring the world outside. When one turns one’s vision inward and realizes one’s essential divinity, one will acquire an equal-mindedness towards all beings. Out of that feeling of oneness, one will experience the bliss that is beyond understanding.

The Romans addressed Jesus as ‘persona’, meaning one of sacredness. The English word ‘person’ has been derived from this. It means that there is divinity in everyone. That is why I address you as embodiments of divinity. You and I are one. There is the divine spirit in everybody. The very self is called “persona.” There is no life principle without divinity. With hands, feet, eyes, heads, mouths, and ears pervading everything, He permeates the entire universe. Divinity pervades all forms.

God tests devotees only to lift them up to a higher level on the spiritual ladder. A true devotee leads a sacred life that is sanctified while facing obstacles and problems with full faith in the divine. The body is only for leading a sacred life.

Surrender does not mean that you are vanquished and that the other one has emerged victorious. In spirituality, it means that the two merge into one – there is nothing like giving or receiving. Recognize the cosmic unity that pervades everywhere. Recognize that this substratum of unity is nothing but God. You will then automatically experience God.

All the values are interrelated. For example, a burning electric lamp can be compared to love (prema). For the lamp of love to burn, there should be a bulb. That bulb is peace (shanti). The bulb had to be connected to an electric wire. That wire is righteousness (dharma). And then, the current has to flow in the wire. The current is truth (sathya). With the current of truth flowing in the wire of righteousness, connected to the bulb of peace, the lamp of love burns and sheds its light. Truth, righteousness, peace, and love constitute a single whole and not separate values. All four values must be adhered to equally.

You must understand the true meaning of education and human values. Education has two aspects: The first is related to external and worldly education, which is nothing but acquiring bookish knowledge. In the modern world, we find many well-versed and highly qualified in this aspect. The second aspect, known as ‘Educare,’ is related to human values. The word ‘Educare’ means to bring out that which is within. Human values, namely, truth, right conduct, peace, love, and non-violence (sathya, dharma, shanti, prema, and ahimsa), are hidden within every human being. One cannot acquire them from the outside; they must be elicited from within.

Realize that the entire universe is nothing but God (Brahman), which is the only reality. When there is this realization of Brahman, the one without a second – even the mind ceases to exist. It is only the operation of the mind that results in the perception of diversity in the universe. When oneness is experienced, there is no mind at all. All is Brahman in that state of consciousness. There is room only for love (prema) in this state. That love is truth.

Believe that love is God, and truth is God. Love is truth; truth is love. It is only when you love that you have no fear, for fear is the mother of falsehood. If you have no fear, you will adhere to truth. The mirror of love (prema) reflects the Atma in you and reveals to you that the Atma is universal and immanent in every being.