GEM 790

To realize your own inherent divinity, service to the people is the best kind of sadhana.

(From : Garland of 1008 Gems, Bhagawan Shri Sathya Sai Baba's Sayings)

Sai Gem - 30

Living in the Presence of God (Vol I/Pt I - 63)

CHAPTER 63


The one that accepts My command as his prayer, the one that rises each dawn with Me and spreads like daylight his strengths of duty and service with the continuous stream of untainted love with the world, the one that desires only the constant company of the Lord, the one that takes this birth only to sacrifice and vows never to fail Me, the one that sees Me everywhere, hears Me all the time, speaks only of Me until his last breath, inhaling and exhaling the sweetness of My fragrance, tasting the nectar of each divine word, making his hands My workshop, his feet My shadow, and his heart My possession, such a one, has chosen freedom from the brutal chains of maya, and instead, has bound himself with the Lord in "handcuffs", and he, My dear, has taken the name of a "devotee". Yes! A devotee that has shut the lights to the world and made it night, forever, and has awakened himself only to the Lord!


The role of a devotee is not any different from that of the Lord. The Lord lives in each devotee, and the devotee lives to love the part that lives within Him as the Lord. The Lord functions only through a devotee, and the devotee functions only to the will of the Lord. The Lord is always in search of a true devotee, and the devotee lives only to search for the Lord. The Lord Himself, is enslaved by the love of a devotee, and the devotee serves his life to His master and makes the feet of the Lord his very home. Thus, the devotee through his devotion, attains the Lord, and the Lord continues His mission of service and love through him.


Do not call yourselves a devotee, until you have begun to live like one. As a devotee, you cannot, ever, hurt yourselves with pride, hatred, and the passions of anger, jealousy and envy. The one that hurts himself, hurts the Lord, and hence, can never be called a devotee. The one that chants My name, and yet stays weak to the world's pleasures, is merely uttering My name, repeatedly, like a parrot - that one can never be called a devotee. The one that promises Me of his perfection, and then fails, bends and breaks his promise with his laziness to persevere, such a one, is insincere to his own self, and will never attain self perfection, until he confronts the truth of his own deception - that one can never, until then, be a devotee.


A devotee, at all times, is only filled with love - love for God in any form, and for His creation, hence, his reaction to all is only with that radiance of love, and he remains unaffected and untouched by any of life's agitations. Remember, My dears, when you have called yourselves a "devotee", you have just taken an oath! - The oath of loving God and living God. An oath is not merely a promise - it is a promise that is determined to succeed. Yes, the promise to the Lord that you are ready to place your hands in his handcuff, lock it forever, and throw away the key! That is the determination, commitment, and love I look for.




- Divine Messages received and recorded by Mrs Seema M Dewan

Ruin

Focus On Now

The whole being, when the law of forgiveness is satisfied, draws new life and strength and power from the one divine source and throws off the old.

- Cora Dedrick Fillmore

How can I forgive a hurt so deep that even the passing of years has not dimmed its effect upon me?  I begin by turning the entire situation over to God.  God knows my pain, and God knows how to help me release the past so that the pain will also go away.

God is my strength, and with God, I have the courage to release the past.  I am now fully in this moment, this time of new opportunity and achievement.  And I begin to understand that every experience has led me to where I am right now.

So I am able to forgive.  And I feel such relief that I wonder why I carried any unforgiveness around with me.  I feel lighthearted and ready to move on.

I release the past and forgive.

(From : 'Daily Word' magazine by Silent Unity, a world wide prayer ministry) 

Search Within

So many are engaged in formal spiritual practices of various kinds; but of what use are they to win the grace of the Divine?  Are you searching for the path that will help you to earn God's love?  When you earnestly search within, you will get the answer.

(Sanathana Sarathi, October 1996, pg 264)

Q518

When does one get established in genuine Mounam (silence)?



When the mind withdraws from the external world, the tongue too becomes silent; all senses follow suit, that is the genuine Mounam.

(Prashanti Vahini, pg 67)

GEM 789

To remove the evil of egoism, service is the most efficient instrument.

(From : Garland of 1008 Gems, Bhagawan Shri Sathya Sai Baba's Sayings)

Don't You Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit-

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a fellow turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow -

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up

When he might have captured the victor's cup;

And he learned too late when the night came down,

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -

The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It might be near when it seems afar;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit

~ Anonymous ~

Joyful In Love

When you love the Lord and recognize His great love for you, it's easy to be joyful! Think of His marvelous deeds. Relish His overwhelming love for His children. Recognize His daily blessings. Oh, may we never forget that the Lord our God longs for us to see the depth of His love for us... and to love Him fully in return.

- Janice Hanna