16
17
all contact with non-self, so that it can
earn immortality. You are a heap of
thoughts. Your thoughts play a vital
role in shaping your life. That is why
you are advised to watch your thoughts
and to welcome only good ones.
5
Forget the Harm
Done by Others and Also Forget
the Good You Have Done to Others
Do Not Forget God; Forget the Harm Done to You, and Forget
the Good You Have Done
Do Good to Those Who Have Harmed You
You Will Have to Take Birth Again if You Expect Something in Return
for the Good You Have Done
Do Not Forget God, Do Not Put Faith in the World, and Do Not Be Afraid
Ingratitude Is a Great Sin - Be Grateful to Those Who Have Helped You
always plan to take revenge. When you
do not remember this, you will not do
any harm. If you remember the help
rendered by you to someone, you will
be looking forward to the reward. On
the contrary, there are two things that
you must always remember. One is that
God is One, and the other, that death
is inevitable. In whatever manner you
may look at them, these two are the
eternal truths.
If you do not want to go to a mar-
riage, you can cancel the engagement.
Similarly, if you do not want to go to
a cinema, you can postpone it until
the next day. But the last journey, the
journey to your death, can be neither
cancelled nor postponed. We make
preparations when we want to go for
a marriage or a cinema. What prepara-
tions are we making for the final jour-
ney?
1
W
hatever things we do with
this body, we are leading to a
rebirth of this body. Any actions, good
or bad, can be compared to seeds. In
order not to sow such seeds, we should
do all actions without desire. All ac-
tions should be done in and only for
the pleasure of God. If you sweep a
place, think that you are doing that for
cleaning the heart, the shrine of God.
When you help or harm others, think
that you are doing it to yourselves.
Then you will never let yourself harm
anyone else.
The Two Eternal Truths
You must forget two things. Firstly,
you must forget whatever help you have
given to others. Secondly, you must
forget whatever harm others have done
to you. Because, when you remember
the harm done by others to you, you
References
1. Summer Showers in Brindavan 2002,
Chapter 11: Sense Control Is the Highest
Sadhana.
2. Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 7, Chapter 36:
The Windows of the Mind.
3. Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 35, Chapter 20:
Character - End of True Education.
4. Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 42, Chapter 13:
Uphold Ethics and Morality.
5. Vidya Vahini, Chapter 5: Spiritual Disci-
pline.
18
19
Make All Your Actions Conform to
Righteousness
There are three things that must be
done in life. You should try to do good
to those that have done harm to you.
You must forget the harm done by oth-
ers and also the good you have done
to others. So you should forget what
needs to be forgotten and remember
those things that require being remem-
bered. What are the things you have
to remember? The good that others
have done to you. You must remem-
ber the good that has been done to
you as something sacred. You must ex-
press your gratitude to them. Make all
your actions conform to righteousness.
Whatever actions you do remembering
God will be sanctified thereby.
See no evil; see what is good.
Hear no evil; hear what is good.
Speak no evil; speak what is good.
Think no evil; think what is good.
Do no evil; do what is good.
This is the way to God.
2
Practise Two, Give Up Two
You must have heard elders say some
warning words. Practise two, give up
two. The two things to be given up are
all remembrance of (1) the evil that
others do to you and (2) of the good
that you do to others. The two things
to be practised are (1) belief that death
is certain and inevitable and (2) that
God exists and yields to prayer and pu-
rity. But, usually, men do not forget the
evil that others do or the good that is
done by them; they forget the fact of
death and the fact of the existence of
God. If you seek profit in every act, of
what use is it? Bank deposits, buildings,
degrees, titles, and riches all have to be
left behind. As soon as the last breath
is drawn, the body becomes a thing of
bad omen; it is moved out of the house
one has built and loved.
3
Think of Three Essential Things
From morning till night, you must
think of the three essential things,
namely: do not forget God, do not be-
lieve in the world, and do not be afraid
of death. These three things are essen-
tial in your life. You must forget any
harm done to you by others. So also,
you must forget any good you may do
to others. If you keep on thinking in
your mind the harm done to you by
others, you will in return attempt to
harm them. To harm them in return
is a sin. You should not undertake to
commit such a sin.
By forgetting the good that you
may have done to others, you will not
be expecting them to do good to you
in return. If you are expecting to get
something in return and do not get it,
you will have to take birth again. You
should strive not to participate in trans-
actions connected with the cycle of
birth and death. Unfortunately, today,
several people take the spiritual path as
if it is a path of business. I am hoping
that you will not do such a thing. You
will recognise the truth and make your
lives fruitful and purposeful.
4
Implant Three Ideals in the Heart
Do not try to find fault with others;
search, rather, for your own. I direct you
to implant three ideals in your hearts:
(1) do not forget God; (2) do not put
of forgiveness. This is possible only by
developing love for God.
6
Ingratitude Is a Great Sin
When you walk on the road, your
shadow may fall on bad patches like
drains, garbage, etc., but you are not
affected by it. You should proceed un-
mindful of the path of the shadow. So
also, you must follow your heart with
good feelings, unmindful of obstacles
that may appear to come in the way.
You should practise truth. You should
be grateful to a person that came to your
rescue in times of crisis. You should not
forget the help given by others.
7
Ingratitude is a great sin, which
brings in its wake a host of troubles. To
forget what one owes to others for his
position and prosperity is to forfeit the
grace of the Divine. He is as good as
dead. You have to be grateful to those
who have helped you to achieve posi-
tion, power, wealth, and prominence.
By forgetting the good done by oth-
ers, the ungrateful person is setting at
nought the highest human values and
strutting about as a vainglorious crea-
ture. Eschewing ostentation and self-
conceit, cultivate selfless love towards
all. There must be a limit to one’s self-
interest. Selfishness carried to extremes
leads to disaster. Excessive selfishness
can cause loss of friendship and hon-
our and ultimately result in utter ruin.
Reverence for one’s parents is a sacred
obligation.
8
faith in the world you see around you;
it is changing every second and does
not last; and (3) do not be afraid. You
are the imperishable Atma that knows
no fear. I want you also to banish two
ideas from your hearts: (1) forget the
harm that anyone has done to you, and
(2) forget the good that you have done
to others. Above all, develop love. Love
all religions and all nations. Recognise
and accept all religions as paths lead-
ing men to the same destination. All
of them teach love and compassion,
humility, and forbearance. I bless all
of you and ask you to promote love,
sympathy, and compassion towards all
beings; God is present in every one of
them, and it is your duty to revere God
in each of them.
5
How to Attain Liberation?
A Muslim should become a true
Muslim; a Christian should become
a true Christian, and a Hindu should
become a true Hindu. You should have
full faith in your religion and lead an
ideal life. That is true devotion, true
liberation. To attain liberation, practise
the following principles. Forget all the
harm done to you by others and the
help you have given to others. Then
you will have peace in your heart. If
someone has done harm to you, do
not be revengeful. If someone has hurt
your feelings, in order to alleviate your
suffering, the best way is to forget and
forgive.
Forgiveness is very important. It is
truth, it is righteousness, it is non-vio-
lence, it is happiness, it is heaven itself.
This forgiveness is everything in all the
worlds. So cultivate this sacred quality