Spiritual Path

The Spiritual, Bhakti path consists of Bhajans (devotional singing), spiritual talks, meditation, study circles, seminars/symposia, and celebration of festival days.  This path provides seekers of spiritual truths with the environment and material to fulfill their respective spiritual aspirations.  Through spiritual discipline, the Organisation attempts to focus the minds of seekers on their inner divinity. Through constant remembrance of God throughout the day, the Organisation's objective to make people realise the truth of the power and strength that is derived from the faith in self from faith in God, and to live in this awareness.

Devotional singing, Bhajans, meditation, and study circles are the most significant spiritual pathways. Sri Sathya Sai Baba has explained the merits and goals of each one for the benefit of devotees.

Quotes on Devotional Singing, Bhajans

"Bhajan is a good disciplinary process by which the evils of Kama (desire) and Krodha (anger) can be kept burning bright and its light shared all around.  Through genuine prayer mountains of evil can be pulverised and destroyed.  The objective is to help the individual to purify his mind and heart and thereby get rid of the effects of the forces of delusion, so that he is then able to manifest the Divinity inherent in him in all walks of life and fill with joy, harmony, and lasting happiness."

"'Bha' in the word 'Bhajan' means that which is bhaavyam (sacred or holy).  What is Bhaavyam?  The Aathma Tathwa (Principle of Aathma) which is divyam (self-effulgent).  The letters 'Ja' in the word bhajan connotes japa (chanting of the Lord's name).  Hence, Bhajan and Japam are the one and the same."

"Devotional singing, bhajan is the process of singing that originates in the heart, not from the lips or the tongue. It is the expression of the joyous thrill that wells up from the heart when the Glory of God is remembered. It is the spontaneous manifestation of inner ecstasy. No attention is paid to the blame or praise that others may give. It does not seek the admiration or the appreciation of the listeners."

"Devotional singing, bhajan is one of the processes by which you can train the mind to expand into eternal values. Teach the mind to revel in the glory and majesty of God; wean it away from petty horizons of pleasure . . . Devotional singing induces in you a desire for experiencing the truth, to glimpse the beauty that is God, to taste the bliss that is the Self. It encourages man to dive into himself and be genuinely his real Self."

"The purpose of congregational prayer (like bhajan) that is, by singing the Glory of the Lord under various Names, is different form silent individual prayers.  It is a joint concerted and mutually helpful effort to overcome the six internal foes of man, lust, anger, greed, conceit, attachment, and hatred."

"Devotional singing, bhajan is a spiritual practice, sadhana for all who share in it.  Those who sing bhajans get what can be called a 'double promotion', for they derive joy and distribute joy."

"You must pass your days in song.  Let your whole life be a Bhajan.  Believe that God is everywhere, at all times and derive strength, comfort and joy by singing His Glory in His presence.  Let melody and harmony surge up from your hearts and let all take delight in the Love that you express through that song."

Quotes on Meditation, Dhyaana

"Dhyaana is the process by which the positive and negative aspects of the mind are regulated out of existence.  It is vision of and path to the Divine.  Dhyaana is not mere sitting erect and silent.  Nor is it the absence of any movements.  It is the merging of all your thoughts and feeling in God."

"Dhyaana stands for the Saadhana or the practice by which the Saadhaka meditates upon God, and thereby unifies the three constituents, namely the object of meditation - the process & meditator himself.  The combination of oneness of these three is Dhyaana."

"Through meditation, we must discern the real from the unreal, the passing from the permanent, the valuable from the worthless.  The reality is God within each person.  He is omnipresent, manifesting himself as love and joy beyond understanding.  The goal of meditation must be to realise that joyful vision.  Repetition of the Name is one of its most effective techniques."

"Meditation helps us discover our inner identity.  It enables us to hear the Divine Voice in our heart, which illumines the path ahead.  It allows us to perceive and develop divine qualities.  Man is divine. He can purify himself into perfect Divinity by the process of dhyaana, taken up with eagerness followed with faith by virtuous individuals."

"The progress in meditation results in the elimination of desire.  Desire gives us no peace; instead, it hides the divine light in our hearts.  When the mind is controlled and examined, it is seen have no form of its own.  Like a shining mirror, it only assumes the image of that which is reflected in it.  Our object must be to see directly the light of the Aathma, the inner Divinity, without the aid of this mirror.  To do this, we must remove desire."

Quotes on Study Circles

"It is not just reading books.  Circle, Study circle means taking a point and each person discussing what is the meaning of the point to them...like a round table conference.  Each person gives his point of view, and finally values are derived from this.  If there is just reading, there is doubt.  But if each one gives his view, doubts will be answered."

"Reading is not completion of the journey.  It is only the first step.  Read for the sake of practicing not for reading sake.  Knowledge about what this author says or what that sage teaches is not what study circle must aim to acquire.  Not information but transformation, no instruction but construction should be the aim."

"The study circle promotes the integrated approach to Spiritual endeavour.  Practice and sincerity are held in higher esteem than voluminous knowledge, experience and devotion are given greater credence than academic learning.  The study circle seeks to transform our behaviour...not fill our heads with undigested information.  It conveys practical knowledge that uplifts and ennobles our characters.  Only the process of character-building can be called true education."

The Saithree is one of the most important mantras:

Om
Saayeeshvaraaya vidhmahe
Sathya-dhevaaya dheemahi
Thannah-Sarvah prachodayaath .

The meaning is :-

We know this Sai as supreme divinity incarnate.
We meditate on this God of Truth.
May this Almighty All-in-all Personality lead us on the path of total liberation.

                                     

Nine Codes of Conduct

1. Daily meditation and prayer.
2. Devotional singing with family members once a week.
3. Participation in Sathya Sai Spiritual Education Programmes.
4. Participation in community work and other programmes of the Organisation.
5. Attendance at least once a month at Bhajans.
6. Regular study of Sai Literature.
7. To speak softly and lovingly.
8. Not to talk ill of others, especially in their absence.
9. To put into practice "Ceiling on Desires" and to utilise savings thus generated for service of Mankind.

Ten Principles

1. Treat as sacred the land in which you were born.  Do not bring grief to your country.
2. Respect all religions equally.
3. Recognise the brotherhood of man and treat all as brothers.  Love all.
4. Keep your house and surroundings clean for this will promote hygiene and health.
5. Practice charity, but do not encourage beggars by giving money.
6. Never offer a bribe or receive a bribe.
7. Curb envy and jealousy.  Expand your outlook.
8. Try and do as much as possible yourself.  Service to society must be done personally by yourself.
9. Never go against the laws of the land.  Be an exemplary citizen.
10. Cultivate "Love for God, Fear of Sin" especially hatred for sin.

Follow these diligently both in word and in spirit. 

                                      

(C) Copyright 2002-2007, Sathya Sai Seva Organisation Japan. All rights reserved.