Sathya Sai Speaks

THE NEW YEAR BENEDICTION FROM SAI

2010 has arrived! This surely is a landmark year as it marks the 85th year of the Advent of the Sri Sathya Sai Avatar. We can be assured that we are going to witness events and divinely spectacular occasions that have never before been seen on this planet in this New Year. And what should we do so that we too can play a role, however small it may be, in His divine mission? How can we be an instrument in His hands? Read this excerpt from Bhagavan’s Divine Discourse delivered on the New Year Day in 2000.

It is a rare privilege to be born as a human. Time is precious. The heart is gentle. The mind is sweet. Such is the nature of humanness, but it is unfortunate that man is unable to recognize his true nature.

Understanding True Humanness

Humanness does not exist in the mere form of the human body. Humanness is actually the very form of the Virata Swarupa (The Cosmic Person). All the powers pervasive in the cosmos reside also inside the human.

Man is unable to recognize his own capabilities and does not use even a small fraction of them. Man is devoid of peace and happiness. Why is it so?

How is it that man, endowed with a precious and rare life, a soft heart, and a sweet mind, is unable to reap the benefits of these valuable possessions and enjoy peace?

Unaware of his innate potential and forgetting his nature, man becomes narrow-minded and selfish and suffers from lack of mental peace.

Ancient men led a very peaceful life. Restlessness of the mind and misery were alien to them. By adhering to sathya and dharma, they were able to live in peace and happiness. Why does man today lack peace of mind?

Even the habits of eating and drinking of men today are not proper.

Man’s Priceless Ornament

What is the true ornament for man? Lotuses are the ornaments for lakes. Houses and buildings are the ornaments of villages and towns. The waves of the ocean are its ornaments. The moon beautifies the sky. For man, character is the ornament. The loss of this ornament is the source of all misery and tribulation of man.

Man does not realize the purpose for which he was created by God. In creation, several truths, mysteries, and ideals were endowed by God. Man is missing those ideals. He is totally unable to appreciate the significance of his endowments. Of all the powers in the world, the power of humanity is the greatest. In fact, all materials in the earth are evaluated only by man. Who gives value to a diamond, or, for that matter, to gold? Who attaches value to land? Is it not man? Man evaluates everything in this world, but he is unable to recognize his own value. Then how can he ever understand the value of Divinity!

Comprehending the Latent Divinity

You need to make an effort to understand humanness. In fact, there is no Divinity other than that present in humanity. Thus, first it is necessary to recognize humanness before you can even attempt to understand Divinity. There is only a difference of perception. You see the universe as universe and do not recognize the Divinity therein. You have to make an effort to turn your thought from the outward world into the inner world to perceive this Divinity.

Take a rose. From the worldly view it is just a rose flower. But, from a divine point of view, it is the flower of the heart. Wherefrom do you have this capacity to perceive the shape and smell of a rose? It is from the Divine. The inability of yours to perceive the omnipresent Divinity is the main cause for all the pains and miseries you suffer in this physical world.

Just as without cotton there can be no cloth; without silver, there can be no tumbler, and the world itself cannot exist without God. Do not mistake this transient body (deha) as real. It is the indwelling divinity (Dehi) that is the true reality. This Divinity is beyond birth and death; the one without an origin. This Birthless, Deathless, and Eternal God is the Eternal Witness for the entire Cosmos. Recognize this truth.

The Most Important Principle for the New Year

You are celebrating today as the beginning of the New Year. Let us not allow any narrow distinctions in our minds. The heart must be soft and the mind must be sweet. Do not poison you nectarine mind by directing it on external objects. Do not waste time. Time is the very form of God.

The one principle that you have to hold and develop is that of love. When love dominates, there is no room for hatred. You must sow the seed of love in loveless hearts. Water it with love. Let love flow in a flood and reach all.

You have to cultivate this pure, firm, and unselfish love. This is the practice that you have to cultivate in this New Year.

Modern man directs his love toward worldly objects and gets entangled in several complications. Love lives by giving and forgetting. Selfish love can be compared to the foul smell of a fish. Cultivate selfless love. Love all. No need to fear anyone. Keep your love pure.

What is the ideal that you have to show? You must help all to your utmost capacity. The best way to love God is to Love All Serve All. Adopting service and love as your ideals, you must commence your new life from this moment - this is My blessing and benediction to you.

- Divine Discourse, Jan 1, 2000