1985: God is the only Sadguru

Teachings to treasure, teachings that transform. In this auspicious year 2015 commemorating the 90th birthday of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, we offer a compilation of key messages from the over 140 discourses in the month of July, including Guru Poornima Days between the years 1958 and 2009.

1985:  God is the only Sadguru

Just as God projects Himself as Man, Man too can concretise God, and persuade God to become

Man by sincere prayer and agonised yearning.  I shall indicate to you today, four directives for sanctifying your lives and purifying your mind, so  that you can contact the god within you.

Thyaja durjana samsargam (give up the company of the wicked);

Bhaja Saadhu Samaagamam (welcome the chance to be among the good);

Kuru punyam ahoraatram (do good deeds both day and night);

Smara nithyam-anithyathaam (remember which is lasting, which is not).

Every family man is engaged in a number of activities in the course of which a number of small creatures and insects may be destroyed. In these and other ways, sins may be committed, knowingly or unknowingly. For removing such sins, the Sastras have prescribed five types of Yajnas' Brahma Yajna, Deva Yajna, Pithru Yajna, Manushya Yajna and Bhuta Yajna.

Brahma Yajna includes the study of sacred books and scriptures. Deva Yajna includes offering

worship, Bhajans, Upaasana etc. Pithru Yajna refers to ceremonies to departed parents. The

fourth one, Manushya Yajna, refers to extending hospitality to guests, 'invited and uninvited.

Bhuta Yajna refers to offering food to animals, birds and insects, etc, and looking after wild

animals. By engaging in acts of service and fulfilling the requirements of these Yajnas, we will

be atoning for sins of various kinds that might have been committed.

In Saadhana there are six steps; Sama, Dama, Titiksha, Uparathi, Shraddha and Samadhan.

Sama, Dama and Uparathi have to do with various aspects of mind and sense control. Titiksha

refers to having equal-mindedness in gain or loss, in pain or pleasure, and in praise or censure.

Shraddha is very essential in spiritual life. Only the one who has Shraddha {faith), will get

illumination and wisdom. So whatever work is undertaken, one should do it with interest and

faith. Samadhana refers to contentment. He who has the least desires is the richest man in the

world. He who is filled with desires is the poorest man in the world. Therefore, one should have

contentment and self-satisfaction. Self-satisfaction comes from self-confidence. Self-satisfaction

can lead one to self-sacrifice and through it to Self-realization.

During worship at the domestic altar or in temples, you offer God 'naivedya' (eatable items) in

the form of fruits and sweets. Sour or bitter things are not offered, for God is sweetness

personified. Earn His Grace by avoiding sour temperament and bitter behaviour. Fill every

thought, word and deed with the sweetness of Love.

Hyperlinks: http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume18/sss18-14.pdf   http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume18/sss18-15.pdf   http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume18/sss18-16.pdf  

 Points to Ponder:   

What are the four directives, five yagnas,  and six steps in sadhana?