Address to Members of Sri Sathya Sai Organisations, Tamil Nadu
19 January 1983
Topic
As I have often said you should have your
"Hands in society and heads in the forest".
This should be your guiding principle. What little you do you must do with a good and pure heart. In the Bhagavathgeetha, Krishna has referred to "Pathram, Phalam, Pushpam, Thoyam" (that is, leaf, fruit, flower or water) that can be offered to God. I am pleased with any of these provided it is offered with sincere devotion.
What is 'pathram'? It is not the 'leaf' that you see around you. The inner meaning is that your body itself is the leaf. Flower is not the one in the plants but it is the flower of your heart, "Hridhaya Pushpam". 'Phalam' is not the ordinary fruit but 'Manophalam' (the fruit of your mind). 'Thoyam' means water but what is referred to here is not the water from the river or tap. It refers to the tears of joy welling up within you from a sincere and prayerful heart.
If there were no clouds in man's life,it would be difficult to discern the true value of light.So too, there can be nothing extraordinary about happiness,which does not arise out of genuine exertion.
Without sathya (truth), dharma (righteousness), santhi (peace), and prema (love), the education that one would have acquired would be meaningless. Charity would bring no merit and the results of all good deeds would verily become naught if man lacks these few virtues. Even so, no heavenly good would accrue to those who wield power in the world, yet lack these cardinal virtues. sathya, dharma, santhi, and prema are the four foundation walls on which the edifice of the grand mansion of Sanathana Dharma (Eternal, Universal Religion) stands. What else can I make known unto you, O assembly of good and gentle persons!
Embodiments of Love!
Knowledge of Brahman is denied unto them who discard the intellect and are enamoured of ephemeral knowledge. To the man who stands on the shores of the sea...
