Teachings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Volume 2

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Talk Less and Work More

Do not waste energy! Energy is God. Today, 

students are wasting a lot of energy through unsa-

cred vision, bad thoughts, bad hearing, and exces-

sive talk. Our body can be compared to a radio. 

When the radio is turned on continuously, the 

batteries become discharged quickly. Likewise, if 

you indulge in excessive talk, you will be losing 

a lot of energy. That is why the ancient sages and 

seers used to observe silence. So, conserve energy 

by observing silence at least one day in a week.

I often tell the students, talk less and work 

more. Only then the latent energy develops. This 

was the sole aim of sages and seers in undertak-

ing various spiritual practices. Once the latent 

energy develops, your memory power as well as 

your power of concentration will increase. Some 

students are not able to perform well on exami-

nations because they are not able to concentrate 

even for a moment. They are constantly engaged 

in listening to radio news, cricket commentary, 

etc., with the textbook in their hand! With such 

distractions, how can they concentrate and retain 

their memory? 

Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 32, Part 2, 

Chapter 14: Seek God Within. 

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Exercise Proper Control over the Tongue

While all other senses do only one type of 

work each, the tongue alone has the capacity to do 

two types of work, namely, to taste and to speak. 

That is why one has to exercise proper control over 

the tongue lest it should indulge in sinful activities 

like talking ill of others. In times of anger, observe 

silence. Our ancients taught: Talk less, work more. 

The less you talk, the purer your heart remains.

Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 34, 

Chapter 4: Have Steady Faith in the Atma. 

 

The Same Atma Is Present in All

A person remained silent though he was being 

criticised. When his friend wanted him to react, 

he replied, “The same Atma is present in me as 

well as in the person who is criticising. So, why 

should I be annoyed when he is criticising him-

self?” A deep inquiry into the truth will reveal that 

when you love or hate others, you love or hate 

your own self. In fact, there are no “others.” You 

consider yourself different from others because of 

body attachment. Once you give up body attach-

ment, you will realise that there are no others and 

all are yours. That is the true vision of the Atma. 

The Atma does not have a specific form.

Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 34, 

Chapter 12: Human Birth Is to Experience Atmic Bliss. 

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Always Talk in a Pleasing Manner

Why has God given you a tongue? Is it to par-

take of delicious food? No, not merely for that. 

The tongue is given to chant the Divine name and 

to talk sweetly and softly. Do not talk as you please, 

which may hurt the feelings of others. Some peo-

ple may not pay heed to you if you talk softly and 

sweetly. It is their fate. They may listen or not, but 

you should always talk in a pleasing manner. If 

that is not possible, observe silence. When you are 

silent, there can be no conflict. Only those who do 

not recognise the Divinity act in a foolish manner. 

In fact, man himself is Divine. Only then can he 

become a perfect human being. Whatever you do, 

do it in a perfect manner.

Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 34, 

Chapter 18: The Life Principles of Man. 

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Satisfy Your Conscience

Love is your greatest asset. Develop love, and 

always speak the truth. Truth sounds bitter, where-

as people are easily pleased by falsehood. People 

do not relish milk, which is brought to their door-

step, whereas they are prepared to traverse miles 

together to consume a bottle of liquor. Falsehood 

has become the order of the day. Falsehood may 

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please others but not your conscience. Strive to 

satisfy your conscience before satisfying others. 

Under all circumstances follow the path of truth. 

In case the utterance of truth is likely to lead to 

some danger, remain silent. 

That Which Sees Cannot Speak – That 

Which Speaks Cannot See

A hermit was deeply engrossed in the contem-

plation of God. He had vowed to speak “truth al-

ways.” Lord Easwara wanted to subject him to a 

test. He assumed the form of a hunter and started 

chasing a deer, which, out of fear, hid in a bush 

close to the hermitage. This was noticed by the 

hermit. On being questioned by the hunter about 

the whereabouts of the deer, the hermit was in a di-

lemma. He could not feign ignorance and say that 

he had not seen the deer as that would amount 

to uttering a lie. At the same time he could not 

reveal the whereabouts of the deer, lest the hunter 

should kill it. In that case he would be a party to 

the crime. He prayed to Lord Easwara fervently to 

show him a way out.

A brilliant idea flashed in his mind by God’s 

grace. God is always with you, in you, around you, 

above you, guiding and guarding you. Why fear 

when He is near? The hermit replied, “O hunter, 

that which sees cannot speak; that which speaks 

cannot see.” By such a tactful answer, the hermit 

not only upheld his adherence to truth but also 

protected the life of the deer. Then Lord Easwara 

manifested in His true form and declared, “Such 

tact that safeguards your interests as well as those 

of others is true yoga (union with God).” 

Therefore it is said, truth is the life of the 

tongue. Righteousness is the life of the hands. 

Non-violence is the life of the heart. Shivarathri 

is celebrated to teach man the significance of these 

values.

Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 35, 

Chapter 4: Idols are Pointers to Divinity. 

 

Strife Does Not Arise out of Silence

What is silence? One should never speak ill of 

others. Strife does not arise out of silence. Salute 

those who offend you. Don’t return offence with 

offence. If you act in the same manner as your op-

ponent, how can you become greater? While say-

ing that the other is acting wrongly, will you be 

right if you act in the same manner? Never act 

in this manner. Let those who commit an offence 

continue their offensive behaviour. Never react. 

Wish for the welfare of everyone.

Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 35, 

Chapter 4: Idols Are Pointers to Divinity. 

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Experience Innate Divinity by Observing 

Total Silence

When God is all-pervasive, where is the need 

to go in search of Him? You should make efforts to 

experience your innate Divinity by observing total 

silence and turning your vision inward. You can 

experience Divine bliss only in absolute silence. 

That is why it is said, “Silence is golden.”

Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 37, 

Chapter 20: Experience Divinity Within in Total Silence. 

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Pray to God Wholeheartedly with Love

Any mighty task can be accomplished by 

prayer. Hence pray to God silently. Do not pray 

for the fulfilment of your petty desires. Give up all 

desires and pray to God wholeheartedly with love. 

You will certainly find fulfilment in life. You can 

understand and experience Divinity only through 

love. Nothing can be achieved without love. Love 

makes all your tasks successful. Some people com-

plain, “Swami, we are making fervent prayers, but 

our prayers are not fruitful.” I tell them, “The mis-

take lies in your prayer and not in God.” If your 

prayers are sincere, they will certainly be answered. 

There is nothing that God cannot accomplish.

Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 37, 

Chapter 22: My Power Is the Power of Love. 

 

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