Sai Baba On Smoking and Drinking

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Smoking and Drinking

 

"Self-realisation can be achieved only through sacrifice but some are not

prepared to give up smoking or eat vegetarian food. If you cannot give up these

little things how can you develop the spirit of sacrifice?" Everyone who is born

must know the aim of life. Not only the aim, but one should recognize the

purpose of life. The good and the bad of mankind depends on behavior. Behavior

depends on the thoughts; thoughts depend on the mind; the mind depends on the

thoughts. So when we make our thoughts pure, we will be pure. Thoughts depend

on the food and the behavior of society. Food is essential. For example, we

cannot put just any sort of petrol in an airplane. The airplane runs well only

when we put pure white petrol in it. Similarly, when we eat all sorts of food,

the body will be ruined. Thus, we should eat only sathwic (calming, pure,

soothing) food. This food discipline is not only for foreigners but for all of

mankind. All belong to the caste of humanity -- color, name, form and dress may

differ -- but all belong to the human society. Similarly, whether it is the body

of a German, an Italian, an American or a Japanese citizen, the entire system is

the same. Therefore, a person on the spiritual path must have sathwic food.

Health is Essential Everybody needs vitamins A, B, C, D and E. Vitamins and

proteins are available in sathwic food. Proteins are in butter, milk and wheat;

vegetables contain lots of vitamins. Both Indians and foreigners, due to habits,

take to non-vegetarian foods and also to drinking alcohol, thereby damaging

their lives. Health is essential to all human beings. When one is healthy, one

can take to spiritual pursuits more easily. But, at this time we are spoiling

our health with our own hands. We should not to the feeling that

people will be happy with only food, shelter and clothing. TopThe United States

of America has a great name as being the land of Kubera (the embodiment of

wealth). The people don't fall short of food, and there are no obstacles to

pleasure. In spite of this, the number of deaths is more than in any other

country. These are not ordinary deaths, they are unfavorable deaths. What is

the reason for this? Is it that they have no food, medicines or cures for

diseases? No! In Europe there is freedom. In Sweden, the government helps to

provide all conveniences and comforts. There is no dearth of conveniences in

the individual's life. Yet, the rate of suicide in Sweden is the highest of all

countries. Not only that, but the number of divorces is also the highest. What

is the reason behind that? It all depends upon the food that causes mental

agitation. But, we should not feel that people are sustained by food alone. If

people are composed only of skin, blood, nerves and bones, they can sustain

themselves a long time only on food. But, people have two extra factors to

consider: mind and spirit. Top Smoking and Drinking?

"When a new student denied he smoked, Baba instantly created a photo showing the

student clandestinely smoking!" You have come to acquire devotion to God so

concentrate on that task and develop that devotion. Always remember that you

come here to experiment with holy thoughts and to sanctify your lives. Here you

must observe discipline. You must behave with decency and respect for others.

Self-realisation can be achieved only through sacrifice but some are not

prepared to give up smoking or eat vegetarian food. If you cannot give up these

little things how can you develop the spirit of sacrifice? When you return to

your country, your behaviour should be such that fellow nationals respect you

highly. They should be able to see the big change within you, with your visit

to Prashanti Nilayam and try to follow your example. When we feed the mind and

the spirit properly, life will be more purposeful. For example, smoking has

become fashionable today. In tobacco there is a dangerous poison, nicotine. The

nicotine poison will leave spots in the nose of a person who smokes. While

smoking, carbon dioxide is produced. The carbon dioxide gas will not only

damage the lungs, but get into the heart causing heart disease and cancer. If

you want to know whether this is true or false, you can observe it by blowing

smoke into a clean, white handkerchief. You will see black marks-completely

black and reddish black marks. When the cloth has black spots, think how much

more harm is done in the nose through which blood flows. And it follows that

smoking is responsible for heart attacks and lung cancer. When the lungs and

nerves are not healthy, it is difficult to control diseases, and the body

degenerates; asthma and other diseases will follow. Three-fourths of the human

body is ruined because of smoking; one-fourth of the body is ruined due to

drinking. In alcohol there are many chemicals that are responsible for

intoxication and dullness of the nerves. Because of alcohol, people lose their

intelligence, memory and become nervous. They are damaged one-hundred percent

because of smoking and drinking! A story on this page in which Sai Baba advice

to stopsmoking

You are 'Acharya' and not merely a teacher. Acharya is one who first practises

and then teaches the same to his students. So when you want to teach good

principles to students, first you practise and then set an example. For

example, if you smoke in the class, students will also emulate you and start

smoking. If you try to correct them by saying, smoking is bad for health, the

students will in turn ask you, "Sir, then why are you smoking?" The true

characteristic of good education is good teaching. Good teaching brings about

transformation in students. Excerpts from Divine discourse 21st November 2001,

in Sai Kulwant Hall, Prasanthi Nilayam.

Top What About Meat? In spiritual endeavors there can be no stability and no

concentration when meat is eaten. As the food, so is the mind. If one partakes

of meat, one will have animal thoughts. For example, if the mutton of sheep is

eaten, you must ask yourself, "What is the quality of the sheep?" They only

follow, follow, follow. If you eat mutton, you lose discrimination. If you eat

pork, you will develop the quality of the pig, i.e. arrogance. These things not

only damage our thoughts, but they amount to violence. It is a sin to kill the

animal. You may reply that an animal was killed by the butcher. That is

incorrect; it is only because you are eating them that the animals are being

killed. If you stop eating animals, then no one will butcher them to sell in

the market. Thus, sin is committed by the one who eats as well as the one who

kills. Because of this incorrect type of food, we lose human qualities and

acquire animal qualities. Top Sathya Sai Baba Brindavan, Whitefield August 27,

1994 From the March 1998 issue of Sanathani Sarathi. Published by Sathya Sai

Books and Publications Trust

"Alcohol dries up your brain - that is the worst. It's an obstacle to God.

Smoking dries up your body. It hinders your development." A Russian devotee,

Alexander, had been to see Sathya Sai Baba and when he returned he excitedly

told all his friends about the phenomenal occurrences that were going on in

Puttaparthi, India. He told them an Avatar was on the Earth and discussed many

of the details of his visit with them. But all listened mildly and had no

interest in finding out anything further about this. He started to plan a

return trip and wanted to take at least one other person with him. He had

previously given several book in Russian to his friend "Mikhail", but Mikhail

would not read them. Although the two had been friends since they were students

and Mikhail knew his friend was credible, still he had no interest in Sai Baba.

Alexander could not understand this as Mikhail was a well educated man, a

professor and well known scientist with many achievements to his name.

Alexander had resigned himself to going alone back to India, but unexpectedly,

Mikhail had called and told him he had decided to go. He had told his wife that

he might stop drinking if he went and so he got her support. He thought he might

pay for the trip by the savings from refraining from alcohol for six months.

Alexander explained to him that no one was allowed to have meat or alcohol or

tobacco in Prasanthi Nilayam and Mikhail agreed to these conditions. But, even

though he had decided to go, Mikhail still refused to read any of the books

about Sai Baba.They arrived at the Ashram and were given a room to share with

other international visitors. On the third day Alexander gave his friend three

issues of the quarterly magazine, "Divine Love" and Mikhail started reading

only those articles where Swami himself speaks. He was transfixed by what he

read and continued reading into the night.The next day, Alexander got up to

attend darshan as usual but did not see his friend Mikhail so he saved a place

for him in the darshan lines even though the Seva Dal volunteer told him this

was usually not allowed. Finally, a half hour before darshan time, Mikhail

showed up and joined Alexander and they settled down to wait for a glimpse of

Swami. At last he appeared and slowly, gracefully floated through the crowds

until he approached to where the two Russian visitors were. As he went by them,

Sai Baba looked directly at Alexander and Mikhail and made a sign with his hands

three times. Alexander was thrilled as it is an unusual occurrence to receive

some kind of sign or attention from Swami.After Darshan, Mikhail excitedly told

his friend Alexander that last night he had had a dream in which Swami came to

him and had a long conversation with him. Mikhail was confused because the

dream had seemed completely real to him and he could see and remember

everything just as when he was awake so he didn't know whether to take it as a

dream or a real event that actually happened.Then Mikhail narrated to his

friend from memory, the following conversation from his "dream". In the dream

he found himself in the very same lecture hall in Russia where he normally

delivers lectures to his students. But instead, Swami was at the rostrum where

Mikhail usually lectures and Mikhail was sitting at a table like one of the

students. Sai: "You wanted an interview - you will have it now. You always

liked double lectures (two 45 minute periods without a break): you will now

have such a period yourself. You may ask me any questions." Mikhail: "Not

everything is clear in religions. They divide" Sai: "Religions were written for

the time when people were primitive and so they were expounded in the language

and concepts of that period. A blind belief and miracles were required. Look at

Moses who was taking Jews from Egypt showing miracles. Each time requires its

form. Temples were constructed but the real temple must be in one's soul. You

did not want to read books about me, but you studied mathematics: first 2 X 2,

then further, then physics. From the simple to the complex, but all the

knowledge is held up by the highest knowledge which is God. Gradually one goes

from intellect to spirituality; one needs intellect to live in the world. You

started reading about me for the sake of your friend. Your friend is my

channel. He brought you here and did it selflessly. Do not worry about material

things - You have a good intellect. Just imagine that man's life in a cosmic

scale lasts only one hundredth part of a second, so what difference does it

make where you live: in a palace or in a hut?"Mikhail: Where can I find

strength? Sai: "If you have spiritual strength, then physical strength is not

important. Your program was to go swimming in the sea (this is exactly what

Mikhail and Alexander had agreed upon). Go or you will be sorry. One must do

everything sincerely, nothing should be done out of compulsion. You have a good

intellect and it's not necessary for you to stay here long. You have to

decide."Mikhail: "How shall I live now? Maybe I should become a monk or work

out an algorithm for my future actions?"Sai: "If you put bread into the mouth

of a hungry man then he will never learn to earn it himself. One can't work out

algorithms for the whole of one's future. That is why you are given a choice in

your life. I give you a trial and watch what choice you will take. on that

depends whether you pass your test or not. If there was no choice, you would be

slaves, and I don't need slaves. You should find a spiritual path by yourself,

everything depends on you. You should not expect any gratitude for whatever you

give."Mikhail: "What concrete steps should I take to come to spirituality?"Sai:

"Let us take an example of water - it is a substance. One may pour it into a

vessel; they may bring it to you in a restaurant in a crystal glass or you may

pour it into a gold goblet. But the best of all is to go to the source, the

spring, and drink it from there. The spring is in your heart. it is forgotten;

you must yourself converse with God. What should you do? You must gradually

change yourself morally for the better. You have bad habits. Start with getting

rid of them. You have already become better; less proud. Pride is making you

blind. Alcohol dries up your brain - that is the worst. It's an obstacle to

God. Smoking dries up your body. It hinders your development." Mikhail: "What

then?"Sai: "Act according to the criteria of Truth. One can clean the puss out

of the wounds like Mother Teresa or help people, but if you are proud then

everything is in vain. If you want you may bring people the knowledge about me,

but do not be a lecturer. Nothing should be done without sincerity, one should

not be lazy. Your wife is more spiritual than you, she is more compassionate.

Both of you still have an opportunity to come to me - your life span is not

finished yet."Mikhail: "I can't understand: is it a dream or not? I am waiting

with my group for an interview."Sai: "The cleverer a man is, the less faith he

has. There are no miracles in the world, only a level of knowledge. For you to

believe, tomorrow morning at Darshan I'll make this sign by moving my hand

three times like that (and Swami showed how he would do it). That's the end of

your double time." And after the dream ended, Mikhail attended darshan where

Swami confirmed the truth of the meeting by making the sign with his hand three

times. He has repeatedly said that no one can see him in a dream without his

willing it. He chose this extraordinary way to help Mikhail in his spiritual

growth at just the right moment in his life. As always he showers his love on

all.From the March 1998 issue of Sanathani Sarathi. Published by Sathya Sai

Books and Publications Trust