sai_pranam

Part-1

Attach importance to moral values, codes of conduct, scriptural teachings, opinion of saints and holy men. You can never go wrong...

Positive Aids to Peace of Mind

It is common knowledge that good health and economic security are a "must" for peace of mind. But having both, many are still in a state of perpetual mental restlessness. Do you belong to this category? If you say "Yes," then read on. The chances are that your trouble is mostly of your own making and therefore avoidable. Let us see how.

1 Do Not Criticize Anybody or Anything

Do you interfere too often in the affairs of others? May be they are wrong. But why should you be disturbed on that account? Do not criticize anybody or anything. God has not delegated to you the authority to sit in judgment over others. All men act the way they do because they are prompted that way by the God within them. It is a good rule to mind your own business to keep your peace.

Mind your own business. An excellent dictum to follow for the man who prizes peace of mind above everything else. Nothing in this world requires your attention. There is a God to look after everything in fact. He looks after you as well. Do not forget this fact.
Let me repeat: Mind your own business. Do not criticize anybody or anything. Criticism is tantamount to blasphemy. Why? Because whatever happens happens by the Will of God. Nothing can happen without the concurrence of God. The fact that something has happened—no matter whether it is good or bad from your point of view—is in itself proof positive that it has God’s approval. And if you criticize the happening, you are questioning the Will of God, the Wisdom of God, the justice of God. Do not do that. You will keep your peace.

2 Be Humble

God sees things by the whole. Man sees things by parts. God sees happenings over the three periods of time. Man sees events only in the present, isolated from the past and the future. That is why man sees discord where God sees harmony. Man sees lack of logic where God finds perfect logic. Put yourself in the place of God. Feel you are God. Feel that the entire universe is your creation and operates by your will. At once you will feel tremendous peace and strength surging within you.

You say others insult you without reason, injure you without cause. Even if that is true, do not get agitated. Face the situation calmly. You will find that calmness can be a powerful weapon to overcome difficult situations. Shut your eyes to insults. Let others think what they like, say what they like. This is a world of ignorant people. You be wise. Be humble before everybody. Be humble in every situation. This will be possible if you give up the idea of inferiority and superiority and learn to see God in everybody and everything "God wills it so. So be it.": Say that to yourself and keep quiet in the face of insults. Be unruffled. If you put up with insults, you will grow in humility and purity. You will grow spiritually rich.

3 Forget and Forgive

Do not develop ill-feeling inside your heart for the man who has insulted you or injured you. This is worse than open anger. This is mental cancer. Do not nourish grievances. Forget and forgive. This is not just an idealistic maxim. This is the only way to retain your peace. The habit of nurturing grievances is highly injurious to one’s own self. You will lose sleep. You will poison your blood. You will develop blood pressure and neurasthenia. After all, the injury or insult was done to you once. Now it is past. It is all over. It is spilt milk. Why do you want to perpetuate the misery of that injury or insult by constantly remembering it? Why do you want to feed the dying embers of hatred and ill-will? Is it not high foolishness? The span of human life is so short that you cannot afford to waste time and life in such trifles. Get over the bad habit. The best way to do so is to keep yourself ever busy in any work which absorbs your interest.

You say others insult you without reason, injure you without cause. Even if that is true, do not get agitated. Face the situation calmly. You will find that calmness can be a powerful weapon to overcome difficult situations. Shut your eyes to insults. Let others think what they like, say what they like. This is a world of ignorant people. You be wise. Be humble before everybody. Be humble in every situation. This will be possible if you give up the idea of inferiority and superiority and learn to see God in everybody and everything "God wills it so. So be it.": Say that to yourself and keep quiet in the face of insults. Be unruffled. If you put up with insults, you will grow in humility and purity. You will grow spiritually rich. You can gain peace of mind if you actively follow a calling or profession, or even hobby, which holds your interest. You will then have a sense of fulfillment, of achievement.

Remember the proverb: Man does not live by bread alone. If you can afford it, and if you value peace of mind more than money, you would even do well to take to a calling or job which you like but which is monetarily less rewarding than one which you dislike all the time but monetarily more rewarding.

-o-o-

Youth today must pledge themselves to speak the truth, develop love and have unshakeable faith in God. They will then be able to establish peace in the world

Sathya Sai

Year 2 Volume 2

23rd Dec 2002

Contents:

Prayer

SaiRam-Editorial

Sai Speaks

Saint of Shirdi- ManiSahukar

Bombay Srinivasan's Page

Sai Answers

Sai in Dreams

Saibanisa