Sai Darshan, Part 2 - 65

Ointments and bandages can be soothing,
But love can heal instantly.
Food can appease your hunger,
But love can fill you
With divine energy that carries you
Far beyond than your physical needs.
Water can quench your thirst,
But love is a nectar that flows within you
And fills you with sweetness.
Money can buy you jewels and precious stones,
But love gives you
Peace and contentment no money can buy.
One thing I have come to say,
"Love pleases all, even God Himself!"
When you reach at the level of giving love,
At all times and in every situation,
You have reached the level of God.


From : 'Sai Darshan' - Part II
(Divine Messages received and recorded by Mrs Seema M Dewan)

Peace Of Mind

1. Do Not Interfere In Others’ Business Unless Asked:

Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others’ affairs. We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic and those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and steered to the right direction, our direction. This thinking denies the existence of individuality and consequently the existence of God.. God has created each one of us in a unique way. No two human beings can think or act in exactly the same way. All men or women act the way they do because God within them prompts them that way. Mind your own business and you will keep your peace.

–

2. Forgive And Forget:

This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often develop ill feelings inside our heart for the person who insults us or harms us. We nurture grievances. This in turn results in loss of sleep, development of stomach ulcers, and high blood pressure. This insult or injury was done once, but nourishing of grievance goes on forever by constantly remembering it. Get over this bad habit. Life is too short to waste in such trifles. Forgive,20Forget, and march on. Love flourishes in giving and forgiving.

–

3. Do Not Crave For Recognition:

This world is full of selfish people. They seldom praise anybody without selfish motives. They may praise you today because you are in power, but no sooner than you are powerless, they will forget your achievement and will start finding faults in you. Why do you wish to kill yours if in striving for their recognition? Their recognition is not worth the aggravation. Do your duties ethically and sincerely.

–

4. Do Not Be Jealous:

We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. You know that you work harder than your colleagues in the office, but sometimes they get promotions; you do not. You started a business several years ago, but you are not as successful as your neighbor whose business is only one year old. There are several examples like these in everyday life. Should you be jealous? No. Remember everybody’s life is shaped by his/her destiny, which has now become his/her reality. If you are destined to be rich, nothing in the world can stop you. If you are not so destined, no one can help you either. Nothing will be gained by blaming others for your misfortune. Jealousy will not get you anywhere; it will only take away your peace of mind.

–

5. Change Yourself According To The Environment:

If you try to change the environment single-handedly, the chances are you will fail. Instead, change yourself to suit your environment. As you do this, even the environment, which has been unfriendly to you, will mysteriously change and seem congenial and harmonious.

–

6. Endure What Cannot Be Cured:

This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are beyond our control. If we cannot control them or change them, we must learn to put up with these things. We must learn to endure them cheerfully. Believe in yourself and you will gain in terms of patience, inner strength and will power.

–

7. Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew:

This maxim needs to be remembered constantly. We often tend to take more responsibilities than we are capable of carrying out. This is done to satisfy our ego. Know your limitations. . Why take on additional loads that may create more worries? You cannot gain peace of mind by expanding your external activities. Reduce your material engagements and spend time in prayer, introspection and meditation. This will reduce those thoughts in your mind that make you restless. Uncluttered mind will produce greater peace of mind.

–

8. Meditate Regularly:

Meditation calms the mind and gets rid of disturbing thoughts. This is the highest state of peace of mind. Try and experience it yourself. If you meditate earnestly for half an hour everyday, your mind will tend to become peaceful during the remaining twenty-three and half-hours. Your mind will not be easily disturbed as it was before. You would benefit by gradually increasing the period of daily meditation. You may think that this will interfere with your daily work. On the contrary, this will increase your efficiency and you will be able to produce better results in less time.

–

9. Never Leave The Mind Vacant:

An empty mind is the devil’s workshop. All evil actions start in the vacant mind. Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile. Actively follow a hobby. Do something that holds your interest. You must decide what you value more: money or peace of mind. Your hobby, like social work or religious work, may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment and achievement. Even when you are resting physically, occupy yourself in healthy reading or mental chanting of God’s name.

–

10. Do Not Procrastinate And Never Regret:

Do not waste time in protracted wondering ” Should I or shouldn’t I?” Days, weeks, months, and years may be wasted in that futile mental debating. You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate all future happenings. Value your time and do the things that need to be done. It does not matter if you fail the first time. You can learn from your mistakes and succeed the next time. Sitting back and worrying will lead to nothing. Learn from your mistakes, but do not brood over the past. DO NOT REGRET. Whatever happened was destined to happen only that way. Why cry over split milk?

- Author Unknown -

ENTHUSIASM

"I greet life with enthusiasm."

Each day is a time of great possibilities. Many experiences are before me that will inspire me on my upward path of growth and discovery. Knowing this, I greet each day with enthusiasm.

An enthusiastic attitude is an energizing one. When I am enthusiastic, I tap into an inner wellspring of energy that promotes change in my body and in my life.

The positive power that is generated by enthusiasm improves my circulation and helps restore health to my body. It stirs up joy within me and calls if forth into expression.

Enthusiasm for life brings out the beauty that I was once unable to see. It opens my eyes to the beauty in everyone and everything. When I approach life with enthusiasm, I accomplish my goals with ease and efficiency.

"I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

- John 10:10

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

Living in the Presence of God (Vol I/Pt I - 67)

CHAPTER 67


Every fear must be faced, all worries must be overcome, and only then, will the mind rest without any agitations. As long as the mind will race, every attempt of prayer or service will meet with a discouraging failure. The fear of an agitated mind will only result in anxiety of the pressure of unfulfilled desires, and this discontentment will lead to frustration, and frustration, My dears, will only speak, act and think rashly with the language of anger, alone. Hence, each day must begin with a prayer - the prayer of being in control with the mind, senses, intellect, and ego.


Each one of you looks for peace, yet each day, fills his bag of fears even more than he had yesterday. Remember, each fear is a brick that builds a wall, blocking the cool breeze of peace. These heaps of tragic fears will only bury the "self" - your true nature, whose existence is only love, whose weapon is only courage, whose success lies in only giving itself, and whose only fear lies in misrepresenting the Lord. Each day has become a funeral, in which you bury the self with more dirt, the only difference being, that the self is buried while it is still alive. Death of the self will never come, it is only the death of your experiencing the self.


Each fear will make an impression on the mind, and it is this impression that will manifest into your action. Yes! It is the impression of pain and chaos that makes you lose the mental balance and will simply make you react by inflicting your pain and your sense of chaos upon an innocent victim, justifying the move as a defense of false protection. Your fear is only the sign of an insane mind that has lost its purpose and direction, chasing every desire and making the veil of ignorance its false sense of security.


You can rise above each one of your fears, by merely confronting them. Fear will avoid confrontation, for it knows that once the eyes of truth will look upon its eyes of deceit, it will crumble with weakness and defeat. Fear will chase as long as you will run, but the moment your back will turn around, and you will begin to chase it, you will hear its final scream of hysteria - and then its goodbye forever. Remember, that the enemy that only threatens, will be the first to accept defeat, without even a battle.


As long as you will fear the dog, it will continue to bark at you. But once you take your first step of courage towards it, it will sense the truth of its defeat and will back away from its attack. Fear, too, is the dog that only barks but will never bite, for it knows that you are the master that will conquer all. The fear of hypocrisy must leave you, and you must learn to live in the light of truth - the same truth that settles the mind in perfect peace - the same truth of the mind must speak the words of "self" confidence - and the same truth must act to make the words a living reality.


Once burnt in the flames of a hungry fire, you cannot simply ignore or hide from its flames for the rest of your life. You will have to learn to make use of the fire, and simply work around it, with proper precautions and safety measures. The wound will heal, and the scar will always remind you of your folly - but the scar must not become your fear to face another fire, it must, instead, remind you never to repeat the mistakes of the past and to live in the present with more courage to bear even bigger pain.




- Divine Messages received and recorded by Mrs Seema M Dewan

GEM 851

If you speak the truth and practice righteousness, you will attain the highest state.

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

Divine Task

Proud

As long as one is proud, men will not like him.  Only when he suppresses his pride will he be liked by one and all.  The man filled with anger will have no happiness.  He will be immersed in misery.  When he subdues his anger, he will be free from grief.  When a man has insatiable desires, he will never feel contented.  When he controls his desires, he will be truly rich.  A miserly person will never feel happy.  When he gives up greed, he will realize happiness.

(Sanathana Sarathi, March 1996, pg 63)

Enjoy The Journey

In such a beautiful wilderness of wild flowers, we are amused with the variety and novelty of the scene so much that we, in our pleasure, lose all sense of weariness or fatigue in the length of our wanderings and get to the end before we are aware of our journey.

- John Clare -

A Baby's Thoughts

Although I am small and cannot say a word

these thoughts of my family I wish could be heard . . .

I feel all your love and the kind things you do.

I get so excited that I smile and coo.

A soapy warm bath or the comb through my hair

all your soft whispers that tell me you care.

Then wrapped in your arms it is safe and secure

protected with tenderness that is perfect and pure.

And if ever I'm messy, hungry, or cold

with just a small whimper I'm quickly consoled.

You kiss and caress to stop me from weeping

then patiently wait 'til I'm comfortably sleeping.

You make my life joyous, full of colors and fun

when I see you each morning your face is my sun.

So, if you aren't certain your gestures are felt

look deep in my eyes and I'm sure you will melt.

They say I'll grow fast like the blink of an eye

but do not be sad at the time that goes by.

Because I'll remember all you've given and shared

to get me through life completely prepared.

I'll be the great one who stands out in the crowd

your hearts will be happy I'll make you so proud.

I thank you so much for all that you do

and never forget that I love you, too.

~ Author Unknown ~

Q542

What does Ganapathi mean?



Ganapathi means the 'Master (Lord) of the Ganas' (Ganaadhipathi).

(SSS vol 30, pg 178)