Sri Sathya Sai International Organization

The ancient sages and seers stressed the need for unity and cooperation among human beings. They said, "Let us move together, let us grow together, let us grow in intelligence together, and let us live in harmony with each other without giving room for conflicts." But such a spirit of unity is lacking in modern society. These days there is no unity even among the members of the family. Unity is the essence of human life. Only through the practice of unity can one attain the goal of human life.

Direct your mind (the Moon) and intellect (the Sun) into propitious channels of peace and prosperity. By spiritual practice (sadhana), you can correct your faults, mold your excellence, and ensure peace for yourselves, your society, and your country. Pray every day for the welfare of all the worlds: May all the worlds be happy (Samastha Loka Sukhino Bhavantu). This is my message for the new year (Ugadi festival day).

Selfless service alone can achieve the unity of humankind. Only through unity can humanity attain divinity. Hence service is essential to understand this unity in humanity. People are under the impression that service means merely helping the poor, the weak, and the forlorn. It is a big mistake to think you are rendering service to others. In fact, you are serving yourself because the same principle of the Atma, the same principle of love, is present in all. All human beings are essentially one. The differences lie only in their feelings. So, people should change their feelings and recognize the truth that the same divinity is immanent in all. Only then can there be a transformation in the human being.

My desire is that whenever any slight misunderstanding arises among you, you must set it right among yourselves, exercising love and tolerance. You should not plunge into passionate dialogue and let things blaze into a quarrel or a factional split. Recognize that you are engaged in the exercise of widening your hearts, of reaching the feet of the Lord through the expression of love. Unless you cultivate love, tolerance, humility, faith, and reverence, how is it possible for you to realize God?

To God, all objects in the universe are alike because they are manifestations of the divine. The scriptures declare – “All this verily is Brahman (Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma).” Hence, whosoever worships the supreme Lord should also worship nature (prakriti). One should love and adore nature because nature is not different from the supreme Self. Nature is the effect; God is the cause. 

When individuals change, society will change. And when societies change, the whole world will change. Unity is the secret of social progress, and service to society is the means to promote it. Therefore, one should devote oneself to such service in a spirit of dedication.

What is spirituality (adhyatmika)? It is not just contemplating on the primordial spirit (Adi Atma). Spirituality lies in destroying the bestial nature and rising to the level of the divine. One should have total faith that one is not just a human being because there is God within. Only then will animal nature be subdued.

Since you claim to be a Sai devotee, you should strictly adhere to the Sai path and make everyone happy. When you follow in My footsteps, you will certainly achieve sacred results and attain a good reputation. Being Sai devotees, you should give up selfishness and dedicate your lives to the welfare of society. Fill your lives with love. Stop criticizing others. Offer your respects to even those who hate you.

It is only when people understand themselves that they will be able to know the truth about the external world. One’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 equal-mindedness toward all beings. Out of that feeling of oneness, one will experience the bliss that passes understanding.

Though one has a bliss sheath inside, one is unable to experience it. There is no trace of bliss in humanity. The happiness derived from worldly comforts is limited. It is utter foolishness to think that worldly properties, possessions, comforts, and conveniences bestow lasting joy. None of these can give true happiness. True happiness has no limits. How can it be attained? It cannot be attained from the outside. It originates from our hearts. The heart is the dwelling place of God. To experience true happiness, mankind should develop firm faith.

Whatever you see in this world is the manifestation of truth. When divinity is all-pervasive, how can there be untruth? But you are unable to realize the all-pervasiveness of divinity. Turn your vision inward and observe absolute silence. Only then can you realize the all-pervasive divinity. Mere intellectual exercise will not help you in this regard. Whatever you see, hear, and experience is the manifestation of divinity. Only God exists everywhere.

The moon is the presiding deity of the mind. “Out of the mind of the Godhead, the moon was born (Chandrama Manaso Jathah).” There is a close affinity between the mind and the moon; both are subject to decline and progress. The waning of the moon is the symbol of the waning of the mind, for the mind must be controlled, reduced, and finally destroyed. All spiritual exercises are directed toward this end. The mind must be eliminated so that illusion may be rent asunder and the reality revealed.

You can get real urge and inspiration to serve others only when you get rid of the identification with the body. When one suffers from acute stomach pain, the eyes water. Why? Because the various organs like the eyes, stomach, etc. are all in the same body. So too, when anyone suffers, your eyes must shed tears, and you must be urged to alleviate their suffering. This will happen if you know that you and the other person are limbs of the self-same divine body.

No evil thought can penetrate the mind of a person wholly given to love and compassion. The thoughts we indulge in shape our nature; along with others, they affect us. For example, when a flash is used to photograph someone, their face is lit; but so too, to a certain extent, is the face of the photographer.