Each Step

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Every journey begins with a single step, and if I am beginning my spiritual journey toward a greater knowledge of God, I take that step with confidence and certainty.

I use each moment as a stepping stone to more awareness of my spiritual nature.  Step by step, I become increasingly more in tune with Spirit and allow divine power to express itself through me as wisdom.  I discover that when I use spiritual vision, I see wonderful possibilities which are available to me as part of my divine inheritance.

This spiritual journey of mine will encompass a lifetime of ever-increasing awareness.  And I do not worry as I move along, because I know that God is in charge and gently holds my hand.

I am on a journey of spiritual discovery.

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

GEM 736

Only when selfishness and hatred are given up can we enjoy peace.

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

REPLENISHED

I come to You

With empty hands.

The only gifts for You

I carry are -

My relentless ego,

All my weaknesses, failings galore

And a repentant heart.

I leave them here

For Your shoulders -

To bear their weight so heavy,

While I fly back home

Like a lightened lark

Replenished in heart

With Your Love !

(By : Dr Vasantha Nair, Blossoming Love) 

MESSAGE 15

The way one thinks, that is what he finally becomes. It is often said, “The way you think, that will be the world before you.”

However, happiness and sadness is only a state of mind. When we are promised security for the moment, we experience less fear and hence the voice of the mind that becomes less chaotic offers a little peace to the thinker. That momentary peace gives joy within and hence the thinker falsely leans on the security that he has received rather than realizing that both his states of worry and peace were merely dependent on the way he alone thought.

We often feel that when we are happy others too must be happy. One may be very happy for what he received…the same happiness that he received may become a source of anxiety and unhappiness to another who has yet not received the security that the former received. Yet we pretend to be happy for the former while we think and bring to ourselves misery and anxiety.

At every moment we bear within a new thought. From this new thought is born a new analyzer. From the new analyzer is born a new planner. From this new planner is born the new desirer. From the new desirer is born the new chaser. The new chaser readily and willingly accepts to chase that thought at any cost…even at the cost of his own self. And from that chase is born the sufferer that is confident that he will gain the ultimate peace if he allows his thought to chase his mirage and in that chase he is ready to leave behind only temporarily his so-called ‘present peace’. After he has caught his mirage he feels he will return with its gain to his self and add its treasures to his ‘present peace’.

All of this happens within the mind of the thinker, and while he crushes himself for his dream he crushes the present wealth of his peace and as well the peace of those he lives and works for. How very sad!

Hence, O child if you need to watch anything carefully, watch your thought. Watch if it dares to repeat. Watch if it creates the havoc of fears in you. Watch if it is asking for you to forget the present knowledge you have gained to remember peace.

Remember peace over all. If anything touches it, it needs to go. Nothing can give peace security other than remaining in it. Peace is never given…it is never found…it is never chased…it never can be kept!

Peace is a state of being that is born when one can witness his thoughts and not be bound to it. It is that state in which one is able to see his thoughts chase the needless. It is that state in which one finds endless patience to see the thought roam and return. It is that state in which one remains like a stone that is untouched and cannot be moved by the emotion of thoughts. The resolve in one’s Atmic principle will finally make the thought dissolve in the truth of the Self. The only thing that you have to realize is that the peace you chase is simply suffering awaiting its return to you. Peace is present in you…right now.

Be fearless of such thoughts. Continue to concentrate on truth. They are bound to subside and once they do the same energy that was utilized to go outward will turn inward and return to you as peace.May you always be at peace. May your thoughts always return to it!
Part of the book: 'Inspiring Thoughts'
By Seema M. Dewan
Copyright reserved by author Please share the messages with no changes in the text

Q497

Should any edible prasadam be offered after Bhajans ?



About prasadam (the edible that is usually offered to the Lord after bhajan and distributed as consecrated food to the participants), well, the edible offering is to be avoided.  The Name itself is the best consecrated offering to be shared.  You can give Vibhuti (holy ash) as prasad, that is enough.  This is the most precious and effective prasad.

(SSS Vol 8, pg 112)

GEM 735

It is only when the body, the mind and the spirit are in harmony that peace will prevail.

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

Human Life

Human life is much more meaningful than that of birds and beasts.  Man has in him a spark of the Divine; his body is the temple of God.  So he must live in such a manner that the innate Divinity expresses Itself through Love, through service of others, and through the recognition of the constant presence of God in him and all around him.  When man dedicates his skills to the search for food, he estranges himself from the light that shines within him, the Self.

(Baba, The Breath Of Sai, pg 243)

Worldly Identity

GIFTS FOR THE QUEENS

This is an ancient tale that tells about a king who had four wives. The king went for some days to a foreign land. When it was time for him to return, he wrote a letter to each of his wives. It read as, “My dearest one, this is a beautiful land. My work here is over. I shall be returning soon. What can I get for you from here?”

Each of the wives was very excited to get the letter. The messenger was to return the very next day to the king, so all the four queens set forth to write her wish list.

The youngest queen was very pretty and she loved ornaments and clothes. She wrote, “I would love to have some traditional saris and some bangles. I hear they make lovely diamond studded bangles there. Please bring some for me.”

The second queen was a scholar and quite spiritually inclined too. She wrote, “I do not have the Upanishads. Please get those and also some other scriptures for me to read...”

The third queen was sickly and frail. She wrote, “Do try to meet a good Vaidya there and bring me some medicines, so that my health improves. With each day that passes, my health is deteriorating.”

The eldest queen simply wrote, “I just need you. Come home soon.”

Well, the king got all the letters and collected all the items in the wish lists of his queens and returned back to his kingdom. He went straight to the palace of the eldest queen. From there he deputed his ministers to have the three gift packets delivered to the other three queens.

Some days passed, the other three queens having gotten over the initial delight of having received the much desired gifts, wondered why the king had not bothered to see them. They sent a message to the king, seeking his audience.

The king replied, “I have sent you all that you wanted. The eldest queen just wanted me, so I had to give myself to her!”

The story holds a very deep meaning. Here the king is God. He is like a wish-fulfilling tree. He grants you whatever you ask from Him. If we ask for but tinsel and trash, why would He give anything but that?

It is only the devotee who yearns for God that gets Him. God has to be understood as a part of your life breath. Think of Him as being with you always. Feel His presence, holding your hand all the time. In simple terms we can understand it like this. If your spouse or your child is travelling and you are missing him or her, how do you remember them? Do you sit cross-legged, close your eyes and concentrate on their memory? Or do you just remember them in your heart as you go about your daily routine? Remembering God is like that... His memory is a part of all the thoughts that cross your mind... consciously or unconsciously!

(FROM SUNRAYS FOR THURSDAY BY PRIYA & SANJAY TANDON)

Thy Will Be Done

From this day forth...

Let me not wait to be blessed but be grateful for my blessings,

Let me not have more desires but be satisfied with my lot,

Let me not be judgmental but to correct my own faults,

Let me not have expectations but accept things as they are,

Let me not waste this life but strive to return Home to You.

Dear Lord... Let Thy Will Be Done!

~ adeline108 ~