According to Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai Baba, 5 factors are responsible for either happiness or sorrow. These factors are known as Pancha – kleshas (five kinds of suffering), which stand in the way of securing enduring happiness. 5 Factors that affect happiness in life: 1. Avidya (ignorance) 2. Abhinava-Klesha (immaturity) 3. Asthitha-Klesha (unsteadiness) 4. Raga-klesha (attachment) 5. Dwesha- klesha (hatred). 1. Ignorance: one who identifies himself with the body is a fool (murkha). This foolishness makes one to forget his true nature. As long as man has a body, he experiences various kinds of sorrow. The day he realizes that he is not the body but the’ Indwelling Spirit,’’ he experiences true bliss. 2. Immaturity: The mind is the root cause of all kinds of desires and pains. When man is able to free himself from desires and disregard the mind, he experiences Ananda(Bliss). 3. Unsteadiness: This suffering arises from an insatiable appetite for all kinds of things. It is the result of man being immersed in the vagaries of sensual pleasures. 4. Attachment: All evil tendencies like, hatred, envy and brutal nature etc, arise from Raga (attachment). Too much attachment is the real cause of sorrow. 5. Hatred: arises when a man fails to obtain what he seeks from someone. This is due to selfishness and self-seeking. Keeping in view your future, you have to make the right use of the present and follow the right path. Everything that happens to you is the consequence of your own thoughts and actions. The Lord inflicts no harm to anybody. Do not grieve, nor be the cause of grief. The very embodiment of bliss (Ananda) is God, who is in you, as in all others. In spite of a multiplicity of containers, the contained is the same. That is the principle of Sath (Existence), chit (mind) and Ananda (bliss). The minutest atom and the mightiest star- both are basically one. All are, in truth-Brahmam (the Divine). So having faith in God, … [Read more...]
Satya Sai Teachings on Discipline
“May all the worlds be happy’’ is the prayer echoing from the Vedas (scriptures) through centuries. Due to the degenerate time—spirit today, self –interest has polluted the thoughts, words and deeds of man. There is also development of selfish love in man...so man needs some valuable teaching. Satya Sai Baba preaches us like this: One has to discipline his spirit by observing two ways: 1. Yama2. Niyama. 1. Yama: It again consists of 5 practices. 1. Ahisa (non-violence): This means avoiding causing harm to any one by thought, word and deed.2. Sathya (truth): This relates not only to what is factually correct, but what is true for all time. Moreover one should speak in such a way, his words be both pleasing and beneficial to others. 3. Astheyam (non-stealing): Under any circumstances and under any kind of compulsion, one should not steal another’s property. 4. Brahmacharya (continence): calls for the complete eschewing of all bad actions and constantly in the contemplation of GOD. In practical life, this means dedicating our thoughts, our speech all our actions to Divine.5. Aparigraha (not receiving anything from others): The Upanishads have regarded acquiring things from others (bribes) is sinful. The cultivation of restraint in accepting things from others is good. 2. NIYAM: It also consists of 5 practices: 1. Soucham (purity): Both internal and external purity is essential in man’s life. 2. TAPAS (AUSTERITY): To get rid of evil thoughts passions and to fill the mind with sacred feelings is real penance. 3. Santhosam (contentment): Satisfy oneself is highly essential. 4. Study of scriptures: Get rid of the impurities in the mind by studying the sacred books like ‘BHAGAVADGEETHA’, Brahma Sutras, etc. 5. Offering to the LORD: All actions that we do should please to GOD. When Yama and Niyama , are practiced in this manner, you will be simultaneously pursing four goals in life, that are: 1. Righteousness 2. Earning wealth lawfully 3. Having right … [Read more...]
