Teachings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Volume 2

20

friends. For example, if you have two pens, give 

one to someone who needs it. If your parents raise 

an objection to this act of charity, convince them 

by saying, “What is the use of having an extra pen? 

It is better that it is given to somebody who needs 

it.” This will certainly make them happy.

As You Sow, So Shall You Reap

There is no wealth greater than love. Respect 

and revere your parents as God. Offer salutations 

to them when you wake up in the morning, be-

fore you go to school, and when you go to bed 

at night. Never argue with them. Try to convince 

them with love. Remember that as you sow, so 

shall you reap. Whatever you do to your parents, 

your children will do the same to you. Never talk 

to them rudely. Be obedient.

Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 33, 

Chapter 9: Easwaramma – The Embodiment of Love and 

Sacrifice.

2

Respect Women and Be Respected

Today people are conferred various titles like 

Padmashri, Padma Vibhushan, etc. (honours and 

titles conferred on people for their distinguished 

services and achievements). But the titles con-

ferred on women, such as Grihalakshmi  (pros-

perity of the house), Illalu (head of the house), 

Dharmapathni (companion for righteous living), 

Ardhangini  (better half), etc., are very high and 

sacred. How can women with such exalted titles to 

their credit be inferior to men? But, unfortunately, 

today due to the effect of the Kali (Iron) Age, men 

look down upon women and treat them as mere 

servants. This is a big mistake. The more you re-

spect women, the more you will be respected.

You should see to it that women do not shed 

tears. Otherwise, the family will face hardships. A 

thorn can be removed from the foot, but a harsh 

word, which has wounded the heart, cannot be 

taken back. So, never use harsh words. Talk sweet-

ly and softly. The husband has the right to point 

out the mistakes of his wife, but he has no right to 

use harsh words and hurt her feelings. You cannot 

always oblige, but you can always speak obligingly. 

The family will attain peace and prosperity once 

you observe these principles. 

Destructive Power of Anger

Usually the element of anger is found more in 

men than in women. If you get angry once, the 

energy gained by you from the food consumed 

over three months will be destroyed. Not mere-

ly that, it also boils your blood, which will take 

nearly three months to cool down. Such being the 

case, imagine what would be your fate if you lose 

your temper time and time again.

The story of Jarasandha bears ample testimony 

to this. Many times, Krishna challenged him for 

a battle. However, when Jarasandha would come 

with fierce anger, Krishna would run away from 

the battlefield. Seeing this happen time and again, 

Krishna was asked the reason for His strange be-

haviour. Then Krishna replied, “Don’t be under 

the mistaken notion that I am running away from 

the battlefield out of fear. I can kill him in no time, 

but this is not the right time to kill him. By arous-

ing his anger time and time again, I am draining 

out all his strength.” Gradually Jarasandha lost all 

his strength and ultimately met his doom. 

Krishna never considered it an insult to run 

away from the battlefield because He was acting 

according to His own master plan. He adopted 

this method of conquering His enemy to teach an 

important lesson. All the plans of God are meant 

only for the welfare of others. He does not do any-

thing for Himself. God always does only good, 

which may appear to be bad to some people. The 

mistake lies in their vision, not in God’s creation. 

Whatever God does, it is always meant to help 

you and develop your sacredness.

Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 33, 

Chapter 11: Women Are the Embodiments of Nobility 

and Virtue.

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21

Each Limb of the Body Has Its Own 

Purpose

Many people say, “Swami, I am losing my 

teeth. What is the use after I lose all my teeth?” 

Swami says, “You may lose your teeth, but the 

tongue is still there.” All the teeth are strong. 

Strong things go first. The tongue, which is soft, 

remains. When you go, the tongue always goes 

with you. The tongue should be kept safe. That is 

why it is said, “You cannot always oblige, but you 

can always speak obligingly.”

Talk softly and sweetly. Speak the truth. Fol-

low righteousness. Chant the name of the Lord, 

and make others listen to it. Do you know why 

the tongue is given? Is it to eat everything? Do 

you know why the feet are given? Is it to travel 

in the lanes and bylanes? Each limb of the body 

has its own purpose. You should do good and per-

fect deeds. The body is gifted to undertake sacred 

activities. You should never be unrighteous and 

never utter falsehood. Let your body tread along 

the righteous path. Swami expects you to earn a 

good name.

Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 34, 

Chapter 16: Vinayaka – The Master of Siddhi and Buddhi.

2

Use Discrimination to Enrich One’s 

Character

Our character is reflected in our words, behav-

ior, and conduct in daily life. So we should speak 

pleasantly and not hurt others with our harsh 

words. It is true that we cannot always oblige but 

we can always speak obligingly.

While cooking, women select appropriate ves-

sels according to the quantity of rice to be cooked. 

It does not make sense if a large vessel is chosen 

to cook a small quantity of rice. Discrimination 

should be used to select the vessel and the inten-

sity of the flame required for cooking. In the same 

way, discrimination should be used to enrich one’s 

character.

Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 34,  

Chapter 20: “Educare” Is True Education.

Develop Love for Students and Mould 

Their Character

There is a bond of pure love between teachers 

and students. Students can win over any teacher’s 

heart, and a teacher can win over students’ hearts. 

If you want to be loved, you have to love oth-

ers first. First and foremost, we should aspire for 

truth. The basis of Indian culture is “Speak truth, 

practise right conduct.” I was always very humble. 

Now also I teach the same thing to students. You 

cannot always oblige, but you can always speak 

obligingly! But sometimes one needs to be strict. 

That is what I do. I can be harder than a diamond 

when the situation demands. Otherwise, I am 

softer than butter. Teachers understood this na-

ture of Mine. 

Teachers! If you want to take students into 

your confidence, you have to approach them with 

love. You have to point out their mistakes and lead 

them on the right path. Only then will they fol-

low the right path and accept their mistakes. For 

the progress and prosperity of the nation, teachers 

should develop love for students and mould their 

character. Then the society will obtain many good 

citizens.

Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 34, 

Chapter 21: Pari Prashna – The Divine Answers.

2

Never Show Anger towards Children

It is not enough if you start an institution. 

The students must be brought up in the right way. 

Speak gently. Never show anger towards the chil-

dren. You cannot always oblige, but you can always 

speak obligingly. Talk to the children softly and 

sweetly. Interaction between the teachers should 

also be pleasant. Then the children will be encour-

aged by their example. Every little thing should be 

taught to the children to the best of your ability. 

Only then the children will learn with enthusiasm. 

Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 33, 

Chapter 15: Education Should Foster Values.

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22

All the Noble Souls Have Taught Sacred 

Things

You are attributing various names and forms 

to God for your own satisfaction, but God is es-

sentially one. Be He Rama, Krishna, Allah, or Je-

sus, all their teachings are meant for the emanci-

pation of man. No religion preaches violence or 

to harm anybody. Some evil-minded people are 

misinterpreting the sacred teachings and are in-

dulging in wicked deeds. All the noble souls have 

taught sacred things. They said, “Love all.” They 

did not preach hatred. God never tells anybody 

to kill others. No one has any right to kill another 

because the same Atma is present in all. 

In the name of God, people are committing 

heinous crimes. It is not good for anybody. Love 

all, serve all. You cannot always oblige, but you 

can always speak obligingly. There is no God 

greater than love. Love is God, God is love. Live in 

love. Destroy wicked qualities. The mean-minded 

people try to attribute their meanness to God. It 

is a sign of ignorance. Do not pay heed to such 

people. Have faith in your own Self. Otherwise, 

you cannot have love for God. Due to defects in 

the modern education system, love is diminishing 

in man day by day. Hatred is on the rise.

The More You Love Others, the Greater 

the Joy You Will Experience

Man is forgetting truth and thereby subject-

ing himself to danger. He has forgotten human-

ness by developing animal tendencies. True spiri-

tuality lies in destroying animal tendencies and 

transforming humanness into Divinity. It is not 

possible to attain Divinity without getting rid of 

animality. Today man is behaving like an animal 

because of his selfish love. Such a person can never 

enjoy happiness. He will always be immersed in 

misery. The more you love others, the greater the 

joy you will experience. The more you develop ha-

tred, the more miserable your life will be.

Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 34, 

Chapter 24: God Never Forsakes His Devotees.

God Alone Is Your True Friend

Students must primarily foster and develop 

good ideas. Reduce excess talk. Do not enter into 

friendship overly. What is this friendship? Who is 

the true friend? These worldly friends are not real 

friends. As long as you are rolling in wealth, po-

sition, and power, they swarm over you, saying, 

“Hello! Hello.” As long as there is money in your 

pocket, they say, “Come on, let’s go to the cin-

ema.” 

As you gradually lose your money, power, and 

position, you will find that there is no one to even 

say good-bye to you! They will try their best to 

avoid you. These are not your friends. God alone 

is your real friend. Wherever you may go, He is 

the friend who will never leave you.

You may be in the forests or the skies; 

You may be in the city or the village;

You may be on the hill or on the plateau below; 

To those who see no direction to their life,

God is the only succour.

Your earthly friends will desert you when all 

is lost. As long as there is water in the pond, the 

frogs croak. The instant the water dries up, there 

will not be even one frog left there. Earthly friend-

ship and relations are all like that. You are experi-

encing it daily. How many such friendships have 

you developed in your life? Where are all those 

friends today? 

As long as you are in the college for two or 

three years, they will move about with you, saying 

“Hello!” After college studies are over, they dis-

perse in various directions. One friend is in the 

east, and one is in the west. If they want to meet, 

north and south block the path in between! That 

is not the type of friendship to be developed. Cer-

tainly, you must speak well to all and move about 

with them amiably. But do not become attached 

and excessively friendly. You cannot always oblige, 

but you can always speak obligingly.

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23

The Lord Is Always behind You

Do not develop hatred; at the same time, ex-

cessive friendship must also be avoided. Be as close 

as is required and no more. Friendship must be 

within limits. Friendship beyond limits must be 

with God alone for He will not let go at any time.

All the relations will come only to the doorstep;

The Lord’s name is your only saviour that will 

never leave you.

Wherever you may go, the Lord is always be-

hind you. No friend on earth will ever be able to 

keep up with you like that. 

Summer Showers in Brindavan 1996, 

Chapter 12: Sathya and Dharma – The Hallmarks of 

Humanity.

Practise Compassion and Morality

Your destiny is not achieving the most plea-

sure, but climbing the peak of bliss. Compassion 

and morality will take you higher and higher, until 

you reach the summit. So, practise these qualities 

even in your smallest acts, to the best of your ca-

pacity. 

You cannot always oblige, but can you not talk 

obligingly? You can, but you don’t! The tongue has 

the extra power to harm and hurt, so you must 

exercise extra control over it. Do not pain anyone 

through your words; spread love; be full of love. If 

you cannot love man, how can you hope to love 

God?

Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume XI, 

Chapter 24: You Are All I.

Glossary

Atma/Atmic

Self; Soul. Embodied Self is jiva 

(the individ ual soul). Self, with no 

limitations, is Brahman (the Su-

preme Cosmic Reality).

To read “Teachings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Volume 1,” please go to the 

following link:  http://sathyasai.org/publications/TeachingsOfSSSB

Two topics are covered in Volume 1:

 

(1) Ceiling on Desires and (2) Eight Flowers of Worship.

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Notes

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Love All, Serve All

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