Thought for the Day

I desire that festivals should be celebrated, understanding their inner significance. Deepavali is a special day for getting rid of all the bad qualities in us. As long as the demonic qualities remain, you will be immersed in darkness. The destruction of the demon Narakasura symbolizes destruction of evil and restoration of virtuousness. Also, on Deepavali day, a whole array of lamps are lit by the light from one lamp. That One lamp symbolises the Supreme Effulgent Lord. The other lamps are the light in individual selves. The truth of the Vedic saying, "The One willed to become the Many" (Ekoham Bahushyaam) is exemplified by the lighting of lamps from the flame of one. Another significant fact is that, wherever the lamp may be placed, the flame goes upwards only and never down. Likewise, the flame of Spiritual Wisdom (Jnana) always leads you to a sublime level through the path of Righteousness.

Thought for the Day

If you want to light a lamp, you need four things - a container, oil, a wick and a match box. If any one of these is lacking, you cannot light the lamp. Similarly, to light the lamp of spiritual wisdom in your heart, you need – the container of detachment, wick of one-pointed concentration, matchstick of wisdom and the oil of devotion. Of these, the spirit of detachment (vairagya) is crucial. Detachment means absence of body attachment. The sense of possessiveness (mamakara) and the ego-feeling are the causes of this raga (disease). Eradicate this disease of attachment through the process of self-enquiry. When you realise the impermanence of the body and all the sensory experiences, you will naturally acquire detachment (vairagya). Discharge all your duties as an offering to God and treat your body solely as a God-given instrument for the purpose of serving others.

Thought for the Day

When a man falls into a well, of what use is it if he controls his voice and his emotions and whispers quietly, "I have fallen into this well.. I have fallen into this well... I am in great danger... Please save me?” and so on. No one will be able to hear or save him. He must shout full-throated, with all the anguish he is experiencing and with the extreme desire to be saved. Then he can hope to get succour. Similarly, when you are caught in the coils of this world, when you have fallen into this deep well of worldly misery, shout with all your might and all your heart, that you may be saved by God. There is no use muttering faintly and half-heartedly, "Save me... I am floundering in this samsaar (worldly life)." When the prayer comes shrieking through the heart, help is assured. Sing with intense yearning for God and enjoy the experience of adoring Him.

Thought for the Day

You must probe into the real significance of samkeerthan (or Bhajan singing) that you are engaged in. Keerthan is ‘singing aloud the Glory of God.’ Samkeerthan is the process of singing that originates in the heart, not from the lips or tongue. It is the expression of the joyous thrill that wells up from the heart when the Glory of God is remembered. It is the spontaneous manifestation of inner ecstasy, no attention is paid to the blame or praise that others may give. It does not seek the admiration or the appreciation of the listeners. It is sung for one's own joy, satisfaction and delight. Keerthan of this supreme type, alone, deserves the name samkeerthan. It is with this high purpose in view that this programme of global samkeerthan was designed. Singing this intense yearning for God and enjoying the experience of adoring Him, helps to purify the atmosphere. It is with this high purpose in view that this programme of global Akhanda Bhajan was designed.

Thought for the Day

The first step to love all and serve all is to expand love in your own homes. You must revere and please your parents who gave you this chance to live and learn. If you ill-treat them or inflict grief on their minds, how can you ever gladden others by service and understanding? You know that when a balloon is blown, it bursts and the air inside it merges with the vast limitless expanse outside. Similarly your love must fill your home, then the society you live, and finally burst open to spread in the Universe. A drop of water held in the palm is soon evaporated; but drop it into the sea and it survives as a part of the sea. It assumes the name and the taste, the majesty and might of the sea! Cultivate Love; sow the seeds of love in all hearts, everywhere around you. That is My Wish, My Mission!

Thought for the Day

When students score low marks parents feel great grief. Similarly, when we fall low in morals and spiritual virtues, our motherland bemoans her fate ten times more sadly. We have to assuage the grief of the physical mother and promote the peace and prosperity of our motherland. The motherland is not a mere lump of earth. When we desire her progress, we have to promote the progress of the people who dwell therein. The skills needed for resuscitating and reforming are found in youth. The reforming process involves the removal, in daily living, of bad conduct and bad habits, and the practice of good conduct and good deeds. You must express your humility, fortitude, equanimity, and gratitude for kindness received, in various acts in your daily life, every day.

Thought for the Day

All worldly pleasures are transient and temporary. Very often they result in sorrow and disappointment. You often experience loss, depression and confusion and have no contentment. Know that lack of contentment is the real loss (Asantrupto nijo nashtah). There is no limit to desires. One feels hungry, another is thirsty. If the thirsty man is offered water, he is not satisfied, he wants a cool drink. When he is given a cool drink, next he wants ice cream, and so on. He is not satisfied with anything. Realize that there is no end to desires for material things in the world. To get rid of these desires, one must turn their mind towards God. The purpose of human birth is to realise the inherent Divinity. That is the way to achieve contentment and lasting bliss. God alone is the source of enduring bliss.

Thought for the Day

Egoism is the most dangerous illusion that has to be exploded and destroyed. Arjuna too suffered this ego. One day when Krishna brought the chariot back to camp, Arjuna wanted that like all charioteers, Krishna should get down first and open the door of the chariot for him. Krishna refused and insisted that Arjuna should alight before He does. At last Krishna won and Arjuna got down. As soon as Krishna left His seat and touched the ground, the chariot went up in flames! The fact was that the various fiery arrows that had the power of burning the chariot had actually hit the target, but due to the presence of Krishna, their igniferous powers could not manifest themselves. Realising this humbled Arjuna; his egoism had a rude shock. He also realised that every action of Divinity was full of significance.

Thought for the Day

You must take care of your body, which is the case for the Divine Spark, until its purpose of Self-Realization is fulfilled. But its nourishment and care should not overshadow the attention due to the mind, its purification and sublimation. Now the body is nourished with breakfast in the morning, lunch at noon, snack break at 4 PM and dinner at night. The body is the cart and the mind is the horse that drags it. Unfortunately no food is given to the horse, which is really the more valuable of the two. Give the mind and culturing of the mind, the importance it deserves, only then life is worth living. The mind has to be hale and hearty, joyous and peaceful, free from agitations and worries. You can keep it happy by recitation of holy names and doing noble acts that helps the wellbeing of all. This will confer you everlasting joy.

Thought for the Day

Many worry themselves with questions on the multiplicity of Divinity. The same current activates the fan and gives air, illumines the bulb and gives light, heats the stove and cooks, moves the wheels around in a train. The instruments are different, but the inner energizer is the same. Some bulbs are 40 watts and some are 60, 100 or 1000 watts. Hence, though the current is one, the illumination varies. Name and form are not essential, focus on the inner truth. Take the case of your own body - the hand is a limb of the body, the hand has fingers, the fingers have nails and so on. Through every part of this and every other limb, flows the same life force. So too, in this universe, which is the body of God, every being is a part, sustained by the same divine essence. So honour everyone, revere the essential Divine.

Thought for the Day

The very first lesson I gave when I declared My Identity at Uravakonda was: "Maanasa Bhajare Gurucharanam, Dusthara Bhava Saagara Tharanam." That is to say: First know that you are in this cycle of birth and death, the ocean of worldly life (bhava saagaram); then resolve on crossing it (tharanam); then fix on a Guru or the Name and Form of God which appeals to you; lastly, dwell on His Glory, do bhajan, but do it with all your mind. He, who is deluded by this relative reality is the worldly person (samsaari); he who is aware that it is only relatively real is the spiritual practitioner (saadhaka)

Thought for the Day

The best means to stay in contact with the Higher Self at all times, is to follow the simple exercise of Namasmarana, the repetition of any one of the Names of the Lord; a Name that signifies the glory that lies embedded in every being. People indulge in all types of purposeless gossip, conversations and scandal. Many find time and interest in these degrading pursuits. But they have no inclination to awaken the Divine in them by constant remembrance of the Creator and His Splendour. See only those scenes that will foster this discipline; speak only of elevating and uplifting subjects; listen only to purifying topics; think and feel only pure thoughts and emotions. That is the way to develop the Divinity inherent in each one.

Thought for the Day

It is true that milk contains butter; sesame seeds contain oil; cane yields sugar. But by merely holding milk in the hand, you cannot get butter; filling the lamp with sesame seeds you cannot light the wick, shaking the cane will not result in a shower of sugar. By placing sweets on a plate in front of you and reciting 108 times "sweets, sweets.." can your tongue relish it? Similarly you study many holy books, and chant mantras and hymns. Of course, the time spent in these activities is thereby rendered holy. But, these are not helping you to transform the work you are engaged in into an offering acceptable to God. Are you putting into practice at least one percent of what you read or recite? Mere reading and singing will not free you from the cycle of birth and death. God has to be planted firmly in the mind, the omnipresent God has to be enshrined in the heart; God has to flow with the blood in the veins. God has to be visualised through the inner eye.