Sai Speaks...

[Guest guest]

Thinking with love is truth

Feeling with love is peace

Acting with love is right conduct

Understanding with love is non-violence - Sathya Sai

 

I have said many times that you are really not one person but three

persons: the one you think you are, the one others think you are and

the one you really are. If you spend all your time in the aspect of

what you think you are, namely your body, how will you ever think of

God? We should gradually turn the external manifestation of devotion

to true inner devotion. Here, ahimsa has been mentioned as the first

flower in this worship. We generally think that ahimsa means not

causing harm to some living being. Ahimsa is not just this. Even bad

vision, or bad hearing or bad talk is also himsa.

 

Hence, if your thoughts are pure, you are blessed with purity. We

fill our minds and spend our time in activities and associations

replete with evil; but when we reap the consequences and suffer, we

are filled with misery. As every thought emanates from the mind, its

consequences are determined. When you are subject to misery you blame

God, but you do not realize that your distress is the consequence of

your own thoughts. This is why you should have good thoughts and seek

good company

 

Ahimsa really means that you should not cause harm to anyone through

your vision, hearing or talking. Ahimsa does not mean merely not

injuring a living being. You should not cause hurt even by a word, a

look or a gesture. Tolerance, fortitude, equanimity - they help you

to be steady in Ahimsa. They will remove all chance of your causing

pain to others. This is called 'sahana' (forbearance) or 'kshama'

(forgiveness).

 

Assess the worth of whatever others do to you or say about you, and

cultivate fortitude and the understanding to appreciate their

behaviour and pardon their faults. This capacity is as invaluable as

truth, righteousness, wisdom, nonviolence, renunciation, delight and

compassion. It is all that one need possess for spiritual

advancement. Ahimsa is another is another phase of sathya. When once

you are aware of the kinship, the oneness in god, the fundamental

atmic unity, no one will cause pain or distress to another.

 

What does Ahimsa signify? It is not merely refraining from causing

harm or injury to others. It implies also refraining from causing

harm to himself. One who harms oneself cannot avoid harming others.

How is this to be ensured? By constantly examining whether his

conduct is right or wrong. For instance, in the matter of speech, one

must examine whether the words are causing pain to others. One must

see that the looks are not tainted by evil intentions or thoughts.

One should not listen to evil talk. Hence everyone should see that

they give no room for bad looks, bad hearing, bad speech, bad

thoughts and actions.

 

" Ahimsa Paramo Dharma " - Ahimsa is the most meritorious deed. Non

violence is an alternate name for Truth and Love. By following Non-

violence, one achieves Love. To follow the path of non-violence, it

is necessary to change the mental attitude. Nobody should be harmed

by mind, body or speech. Overwhelm the bad and jealous by your

goodness. Humility is the main quality of those who want to don the

mantle of non-violence.

 

While adhering to our duty, we may possibly be causing harm to

another. Under such circumstances, the intention and duty must be

considered. If a dacoit cuts off your head it is himsa (violence); if

the doctor amputates it, he saves your life and so it is ahimsa

(nonviolence). In Bhagavad Gita the Lord explains to Arjuna that it

is his righteousness to slay the enemy. Krishna wanted the peace of

this world, and yet he encouraged the big battle in which four

million people were killed. The greater good of the society required

the elimination of the wicked foe.

 

You should also be careful with regard to your food. Excessive eating

does violence to the body. Moderation is conducive to happiness.

Ahimsa is thus what confers happiness on you. When you realize that

God is in everyone, you will practice non-violence.

 

(ARTICLE FROM SAI SAMCHAR,)

 

Kindness to all living beings is one of the most important virtues of

human beings -- Sathya Sai

 

Ram Chugani

Kobe, Japan

rgcjp