Golden words of Bhagavan Sathya Sai Baba - 780.

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80. Humanity

 

Though axed and maimed by man, trees selflessly serve him by providing him

fruits and shade. Rivers carry water to quench man's thirst and to cleanse his

body. The cow also selflessly serves man by providing milk. Man should, in the

first place, realize the truth that he has been endowed with the human body not

for seeking his selfish ends but for serving others. Since man has gained his

wealth, knowledge and skills from society, he has to discharge his debt to

society by doing some good in return. A man without this supreme virtue of

gratitude is worse than a cruel animal; his education and skills are a sheer

waste. It is indeed by serving society that these acquire splendour and

significance.

 

Man should bring under his control the source of pleasure and pain. More than

pleasure, it is pain that awakens the wisdom in man. If you study the lives of

great men, you will find that it is out of trouble and pain that they derived

wisdom. Without sorrow, there can be no wisdom. It is pain that teaches many

lessons to man. Not realizing this profound truth, man pursues pleasure

endlessly. No doubt, man needs to be happy. But how is happiness to be achieved?

It is only when sorrow is overcome that man realizes happiness. Hence everyone

should welcome sorrow in the same spirit in which he greets happiness. Pain and

pleasure are intermingled. No one can separate them. Pleasure is never found

separately by itself. When one is relieved of pain, one experiences pleasure.