Bowl of Saki, January 26, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:

The phenomena of the radiance of the soul are apparent to the student of the human body. The body with its perfect mechanism loses power, magnetism, beauty, and brightness, when the soul departs from the body. This shows that the power, magnetism, beauty, and brightness belong to the soul.

from  http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/V/V_47.htm

As the brain is the instrument of the mind, which is invisible, and the heart of flesh is the vehicle of the heart within, which is above substance, so it is the illumination of the soul, our invisible being, whose light is reflected within this physical body. When active it beams through the eyes, through the radiance of the countenance, charging the whole environment with a magnetic atmosphere.

from  http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/V/V_45.htm

Every soul radiates an influence which charges the atmosphere all around. The more powerful the influence the wider it spreads, forcing its way even through walls. There is no barrier of water or space which can keep that influence from spreading. The stronger the influence the longer it lasts. … Atmosphere is a silent music. It has its effect upon the listener, exciting or peaceful, whatever it may be.

from  http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/XIII/XIII_6.htm

The heart of man is like a globe over the light of the soul. When the globe is dusty, naturally the light is dim. When it is cleaned, the light increases. In fact, the light is always the same. It is the fault of the globe when it is not clear. When this radiance shines out, it shows itself not only through the countenance and expression of a man, but even in the man’s atmosphere. The soul-power, so to speak, freely projects outward, and the surroundings feel it.

from  http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/V/V_47.htm

The best way to get rid of desire, anger and hatred is to strike at the very taproot of the tree – the mistaken belief that you are the body, with this name and form, senses, intelligence and mind. This is the luggage you are carrying. Don’t you say, my nose, my book, my umbrella? Who is this ‘I’ that calls all these ‘mine’? That is the real ‘you’! It was present, when you were born, when you were sleeping forgetting everything else including your body and its afflictions. That ‘I’ cannot be harmed, it does not change, it knows no birth and death. Learn the discipline that makes you aware of this truth and you will be ever free and bold. This is true knowledge (atmavidya), which the preceptors and sages have gleaned for you. You too must, one day or the other learn this and save yourselves. All have to reach the goal, traveling along the path of wisdom.

- Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
from: Divine Discourse, Feb 20, 1965.

- Bhagavan Sri Sathya sai baba

from: Geetha Vahini, Ch 9.

Bowl of Saki, January 23, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:

Common sense is necessary in the path of attainment, but not to such an extent that the reason should dominate and lead the will. The will, in action, must lead the reason, whereas if the reason is allowed to lead the will, the will many times becomes paralyzed. But when in cooperation the will leads the reason, then the path of attainment becomes illuminated.

~~~ “Githa I, Sadhana 5″, by Hazrat Inayat Khan (unpublished)

In order to see this question more clearly one must picture oneself as two beings, one the king and the other the servant. When one of them expresses a wish, it is the king who wishes. And the part that says, ‘I cannot,’ is the servant. If the servant has his way, then the king is in the place of the servant. And the more the servant has his way, the more the servant rules and the king obeys. In this way naturally conflict arises and that reflects upon the outer life. One’s whole life becomes unlucky. One may be pious or good or religious, it makes no difference. If man does not realize the kingdom of God within himself nor realize his spirit to be a king, he does not accomplish the purpose of life.

from  http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/VI/VI_28.htm

Some are always worn out by ills that affect the body; they are called the Aarthas. There are others who are worried by the struggle for prosperity, power, property, fame, etc.; they are Artha-arthis. The third type are those that yearn for the realisation of the Atma, and such people read the scriptures, move in the company of spiritual aspirants, act along the lines of scriptures – sadachara (Right Conduct), and are always motivated to reach the Lord; they are called Jijnaasus. The fourth is the Jnani, who is ever immersed in the Divine. I am like the Kalpavriksha (wish-fulfilling divine tree). My task is to give each what they ask for, without any prejudice or favouritism. Can any fault be imputed to the Sun shining its rays? The rays of the Sun fall equally upon all that are directly in the ir way; but if someone is behind something else, inside a closed room for instance, how can the Sun illumine them? Cultivate higher yearnings and receive accordingly!

- Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

from: Geeta Vahini, Ch 8

The individual soul is a business man – his karmas (actions) are his commerce – good and bad fruits of his good and bad actions are his profit and loss. The world is his business house. Think well and judge what is right before you act. Involuntary, unintentional or unconscious actions do not constitute karma, because volition is the most important factor in determining karma, and here it is absent. Sin is only a mistake, misdirected energy. Mistakes are lessons in wisdom. The essence of evil and sin is belief in things that perish.

The essence of religion is truth and the essence of law is virtue. Two birds, inseparable friends, cling to the same tree. One of them eats sweet and bitter fruits and the other watches without eating. The tree is the body. One bird is the individual soul who enjoys the fruits of his actions – pleasure and pain. The other bird is the Lord who remains as a witness without eating.

Respect of the soul is praiseworthy. Respect of the body is despicable. A scientist conquers external nature but a yogi conquers the mind and internal nature. The sinner of today is the saint of tomorrow. Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.

Your goal is God. Your centre is God. Your ideal is God. Turn back to God and realise everlasting bliss. Resting on him you will be saved. As the lamp cannot burn without oil, so too, you cannot live without God. God is within you all the time, inspiring you, lifting you up. Withdraw. Aspire. Meditate. Realise.

- Swami Sivananda

Bowl of Saki, January 28, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:

Very few realize what power sincerity carries. A false man, however physically strong he is or however great is his willpower, is kept down by his falsehood; it never allows him to rise. It eats into him because it is rust. Those who have done great things in life, in whatever walk of life it be, have done them by the power of truth, the power of sincerity.

from  http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/IV/IV_31.htm

Sincerity is the principal thing in life. Youth is the age which is most attracted to superficiality. That is the reason why many youths adopt an artificial manner of thought, speech and action, which is very undesirable and does not benefit their life. It is important to inculcate sincerity in the character of the youth. To give a youth a love of sincerity is extremely useful, for the power of sincerity can work miracles.

from  http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/III/III_I_6.htm

The more sincerity is developed, the greater share of truth you will have. And however much sincerity a person may have, there is always a gap to fill, for we live in the midst of falsehood, and we are always apt to be carried away by this world of falsehood. Therefore we must never think we are sincere enough, and we must always be on our guard against influences which may carry us away from that sincerity which is the bridge between ourselves and our ideal. No study, no meditation is more helpful than sincerity itself.

~~~ “Supplementary Papers, Classes for Mureeds I”, by Hazrat Inayat Khan (unpublished)

Service to your fellow beings is more needed than service to the Lord. In fact, serving a person is equal to serving the Lord Himself. That is the path of true devotion. For what greater means can there be to please God than that of pleasing His children? The scripture Purusha Suktha describes God as having a thousand heads, eyes and feet. That is to say, every living being is God. Though there is a mention of a thousand heads, there is no mention of a thousand hearts, there is only one heart. The same blood circulates through all the heads, eyes, feet and limbs. When you tend to the limb, you tend to the individual. When you serve a human being, you serve God. When your goal is to serve and adore God, every step will yield you a spring of joy, and every moment, every opportunity is a valuable gift from Him.

- Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

from: Divine Discourse, March 1966.

The basis of good manners is self-reliance. For this reason, the great founders and eminent teachers of all religions have repeatedly proclaimed the need for recognising the Godhead within and for self-reliance in the last resort, rather than texts, persons or customs.

Self-control is greatest in the man whose life is dominated by ideals and general principles of conduct. The final end of moral discipline is self-control. The whole nature of man must be disciplined. Each element requires its specific training. Discipline harmonises the opposing elements in him. Self-control will enable the aspirant to know the truth, to desire the good, and to win the right – and thus to realise the reality.

Discipline is the training of our faculties, through instructions and through exercise, in accordance with some settled principle of authority. You must discipline not only the intellect but also the will and the emotions.

A disciplined man controls his actions. He is no longer at the mercy of the moment. He ceases to be a slave of his impulses and senses (indriyas). Such mastery is not the result of one day’s effort. It is acquired only by protracted practice and daily self-discipline. You must learn to refuse the demands and impulses of your lower nature. A self-controlled man is able to resist wrong actions, towards which a worldly man is most strongly impelled.

Discipline yourself and grow strong. Stand unshaken. Rest in the Atman (the immortal blissful soul). Perfection is not impossible of achievement. It is within the easy reach of human endeavour. All desires are fulfilled after Self-realisation.

If you lack wisdom, ask God sincerely and he will give you wisdom. Physical health, intellectual understanding, moral integrity and spiritual wisdom lead to ultimate perfection.

- Swami Sivananda

Bowl of Saki, January 29, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:

If one studies one’s surroundings one finds that those who are happy are so because they have less thought of self. If they are unhappy it is because they think of themselves too much. A person is more bearable when he thinks less of himself. And a person is unbearable when he is always thinking of himself. There are many miseries in life, but the greatest misery is self-pity.

from  http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/IV/IV_29.htm

Man is mostly selfish, and what interests him is that which concerns his own life. Not knowing the troubles of the lives of others he feels the burden of his own life even more than the burden of the whole world. If only man in his poverty could think that there are others who are poorer than he, in his illness that there are others whose sufferings are perhaps greater than his, in his troubles that there are others whose difficulties are perhaps greater than his! Self-pity is the worst poverty. It overwhelms man and he sees nothing but his own troubles and pains, and it seems to him that he is the most unhappy person in the world, more so than anyone else.

A great thinker of Persia, Sa’di, writes in an account of his life, ‘Once I had no shoes, I had to walk barefoot in the hot sand, and how miserable I was. Then I met a man who was lame, for whom walking was very difficult. I bowed down to heaven at once and offered thanks that I was much better off than he who had not even feet to walk upon.’ This shows that it is not a man’s situation in life, but his attitude towards life that makes him happy or unhappy.  …

When Jesus Christ said, ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God,’ this teaching was an answer to the cry of humanity: some crying, ‘I have no wealth,’ others crying, ‘I have no rest,’ others crying, ‘My situation in life is difficult,’ My friends are troubling me,’ or, ‘I want a position, wealth.’ The answer to them all is, ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.’

from  http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/VIII/VIII_2_40.htm