THOUGHT FOR THE DAY APRIL 2011

[V2K]

1st April 2011

It is important that you should not become a victim of the six inner enemies, which are Kama (desire), Krodha (anger), Lobha (greed), Moha (attachment), Mada (pride) and Matsarya (jealousy). Then, you can experience peace and love. Everyone should perform their duties meticulously and adhere to Dharma (code of conduct). Even an ant follows its Dharma. Wherever it finds food, it carries to its place and consumes it. It does not harm anybody, nor does it steal anything from anybody. All the birds and animals follow their natural Dharma and conduct themselves accordingly. The path of Dharma is fundamental for all, right from a Cheema (Ant) and Brahma (Creator). The same principle of Truth is present in both.
     
- BABA

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4th April 2011 Ugadi

Good and bad co-exist. It is not possible for anyone to separate them. When you cultivate more of goodness, the bad in you will become absolutely insignificant. There is no need to use any force to drive all that is bad. When you forget bad, goodness will develop in you in full measure. Do not think that the New Year will give you some new results. Whatever good or bad you experience is the result of your thoughts, words, and actions. When any bad thought comes into your mind, give it up immediately. If you conduct yourself in this manner, you will become a true devotee of God and achieve liberation. This is the message I would like to give you on this sacred day.
     
- BABA

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5th April 2011

Very often, people act quite contrary to the dictates of their Dharma. People do not follow the path laid down by the scriptures. Truth is the holiest of all virtues. But they do not have an iota of truthfulness in them. People lose courage at the slightest upset and give up the adventure of life. They develop a kind of pseudo-renunciation. If only they lead their life with the attitude of performing their duty, they need not run away from it and seek caves and forests for escape. You can realize the Lord in your assignment of duty, in your own Dharmic life, no matter what you do.
     
- BABA

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7th April 2011

Mere words are not enough when you pray. You should offer your heart to God in prayer. Great souls offer their hearts to God in prayer. In Mahabharatha, Draupadi, the wife of Pandavas, always prayed thus: "Dear Lord, I worship you day and night. Please be compassionate and protect me. If you are compassionate towards me I will not be bothered about any challenges or ordeals that I may have to face." True to her prayer, she always received God's protection and overcame innumerable troubles that she had to face in her life. Her devotion to Lord Krishna remained unaffected despite facing many challenges and ordeals in her life. Some may pray to Lord Rama, others may pray to Lord Krishna. Names and forms are many, but Divinity is one. Atma is the nameless formless Divinity.
     
- BABA

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8th April 2011

A good character is essential for the realization of the Atma. In other words, all evil propensities have to be uprooted. Just as the army becomes dispirited and surrenders when the commander falls, so too, the army of evil qualities will surrender its arms as soon as Ahamkara (egotism) is destroyed. The evil qualities are all natives of the realm of anger, so if that region is destroyed, the soldiers can never again raise their heads. It is enough to accomplish this alone, for what can commander Egotism achieve without a single soldier to march under his orders? So, all efforts must be directed to destroy the realm of anger so that no commander can venture to let loose the hounds of war. Let each spiritual aspirant preserve the region of his mind in peace, by putting a stop to the rise of this commander and his soldiers. Let each spiritual aspirant bask forever under the smile of the ruler, the Atma.
     
- BABA

[V2K]

9th April 2011

The Cosmos does not exist. It is an illusion. It never is, has been or will be. The Creation of the Cosmos, the dissolution of the Cosmos, the billions of individuals emerging and merging, all this is but a dream. There is no individual Jivatma (soul) at all. There is only One Indivisible Complete Absolute. Like the one sun reflected as a billion suns in a lakes, ponds, and drops of water, the Jivatmas are but reflections of the One in the minds that it shines upon.
     
- BABA

[V2K]

11th April 2011

Be it a millionaire or a pauper, everyone takes refuge in the Divine Name, in times of difficulties. Many sages in the past performed penance and undertook several kinds of vows to spread the glory of the Divine Name in this world. Lord Rama never told anybody to chant His Name or contemplate it. Rama, in fact, declared that all are the embodiments of Divinity. The foremost teaching of Rama was that everyone should follow Truth. Rama practised truth, all through his life and achieved unity in thought, word and deed. Hence, even to this day, people, young and old, chant the sacred name of the Lord, Rama, with great devotion.
     
- BABA

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12th April 2011

Sathya (Truth) and Dharma (Right Conduct) are the two main teachings of Rama. Do not consider yourself as a mere human being. Develop full faith that you are none other than the Divine! The very same Atma that pervades the entire universe took a form and incarnated as Rama. You should take Sathya (Truth) as your very basis. You must sustain and promote Dharma (righteousness). Dharma is not confined to any particular place or country; it is present in all. It is born out of Sathya. What is Dharma? Dharayati iti Dharma (that which sustains is Dharma). Some people wrongly limit Dharma to mere feeding of the poor or acts of charity. Dharma should flow from your own heart. Then, it should be put into practice. Do as you say. That is your foremost duty. On the other hand, if you happen to say one thing and do something contrary to it, know that it connotes Adharma (unrighteousness). There should be perfect harmony between your thoughts, words and actions.
     
- BABA

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14th April 2011 Tamil New Year

What is 'Moksha'? It is giving up of the 'Anatma', the unreal. Suppose you want a glass of fruit juice, unless you throw away the water already in the glass, you cannot pour juice in to the glass. Similarly, unless you give up worldly desires, 'Atmabhava' (spirituality) cannot take root in you. When you spend your hours immersed in thoughts about God, you become free from evil ways. You will not be tempted to abuse others or harm them in any way. You begin to live in Love, accepting all events as His gifts. Then your home verily becomes heaven on Earth; the joy that bubbles in your heart is the symbol of Vaikunta (abode of Lord Vishnu); the earnestness and care that you evince in your work will symbolise Kailasa (the abode of Lord Shiva)
     
- BABA

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15th April 2011 Vishu

It is only when the mind is completely under control that man can grasp his real identity. Then all troubles and travails, doubts and dilemmas, come to an end. Man then overcomes sorrow, delusion and anxiety. He is established in the holy calmness of Shanti (peace). Spiritual life is not a matter of meaningless talk. It is an experience of pure Ananda (bliss).
     
- BABA

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18th April 2011

When you see faults in anyone, you must restrict your conclusions to that there are deficiencies in his/her behaviour - that is all. Do not conclude that there is no Divine Atma (soul) in them. As a result of the company they keep or the shortcomings of the society in which they grew such faults have taken root in them. They are not native to their nature, which is Atmic. Attempt to provide them with good company and conducive surroundings and persuade them to live therein. On no account should you condemn them and keep yourself aloof from them.
     
- BABA

[V2K]

20th April 2011

Man suffers from two kinds of ills, physical and mental. One peculiar fact about these two types of illnesses is that cultivation of virtue cures both. An attitude of generosity, of fortitude in the presence of sorrow and loss, a spirit of enthusiasm to do good and to be of service to the best of one's capacity, these build up the mind as well as the body. The joy derived from service reacts on the body and makes you free from disease. Thus, the body and the mind are closely interrelated.
     
- BABA

[V2K]

21st April 2011

When people approach us, fanatical in their beliefs about God we must welcome them with a smile, eager and yearning, filled with devotion to God. When someone who is passionate about his work approaches us we must share with him our skill and strength and join with him in work. By this means it is possible to bring harmony between followers of various faiths and philosophic thoughts. It will bring together various schools of thought and belief. How wonderful it would be if this kind of harmony and harmonious co-operation becomes more prevalent. How happy the world would be if everyone comprehends that his/her viewpoint can at best be only the partial truth and that it requires the harmonious commingling of many other facets to arrive at the whole truth.
     
- BABA

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22nd April 2011

The spiritual aspirant must not give way to any dispiritedness, despondency, or feeling of failure or doubt. The aspirant must be patient and bear events with fortitude. Hence, the aspirant must develop within himself enthusiasm, faith, and joy. Keeping the ultimate result of the effort constantly in view, the aspirant must boldly confront all difficulties and temptations. Since difficulties are but short-lived and weak, with a little patience, they can be overcome with ease. If the aspirant is not vigilant and patient, all the success achieved up to that point will melt away in an unguarded moment.
     
- BABA

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23rd April 2011

"Yoga" means “Union”. In India, where yoga is flowing in the veins of everyone since ages, people must strive for harmonious coexistence of many faiths and beliefs, which is the ideal type of Universal Religion. Those who can heroically put their faith into daily living can accomplish this “togetherness” in the human community. Togetherness or Union can be established between one’s outer behaviour and inner nature. The Sadhaka (aspirant for spiritual progress), intent on the path of Prema, must strive for Union between himself and the embodiment of Prema, namely, God.
     
- BABA